led until after 3rd, pressed leader, led again 5th, bad mistake next, headed 8th, left in lead 10th, driven and stayed on strongly run-in
mid-division out wide, pushed along after 7th, soon towards rear, never on terms after, tailed off when awkward 16th
always rear-division, tailed off and pulled up before omitted 3 out
held up and behind, steady headway after 7th, chased leaders after 10th, pushed along after 3 out (normal 4 out), weakened bypassing omitted 2 out
held up in last pair, headway chasing leaders 17th, weakened before bypassing omitted 3 out
chased leader on inside, led after 3rd until 5th, chasing leader when blundered and unseated rider 10th
chased leaders, left in 2nd place at 10th, every chance bypassing omitted 2 out, soon ridden, lost 2nd run-in, weakened into 4th towards finish
early reminders, always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off
chased leaders, pushed along after 4 out, ridden before omitted 3 out, weakened and pulled up before the last
in rear, headway chasing leaders out wide approaching 17th, fell next
towards rear, on inside, not much room on inside when hampered and blundered 6th, never really on terms after
chased leaders on inside, lost place 5th, towards rear and no chance after, tailed off and pulled up before omitted 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd run-in, stayed on, always held
mid-division, closer at 16th, blundered 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division, went left and hampered rival 6th, ridden and headway chasing leaders before omitted 3 out, stayed on run-in, went modest 3rd towards finish
Cheltenham third Smooth Stepper is a proven stayer. He’s in the veteran stage now but did win off a higher mark last year so can’t be ignored. Just Your Type throws in the odd shocker but is consistent overall and on a decent mark. Go Whatever beat Pemberley seven lengths in the Sussex National at Plumpton and the fourth and fifth have both won since. SEASTON SPIRIT was pulled up in that race having been brought to a standstill by a faller around halfway. Oliver Sherwood’s gelding won the Sussex National in 2021, however, and is now 3lb lower. He’ll love conditions here and will be a working man’s price. Eclair Mag was well backed over 3m4f at Market Rasen at Boxing Day but fell when in rear. Fado Des Brosses should be suited by this marathon trip and The Galloping Bear makes his handicap debut being very unexposed. Exeter runner-up Laskalin is also worth considering with his yard in fine form.
The Galloping Bear 3-1 (10-12) Held up, mistake 4 out, headway before 3 out, fell 3 out, at Chepstow 3m (3) gs in Dec.
Smooth Stepper 50-1 (11-2) Prominent until 2nd, chased leaders, lost place and ridden 12th, rallied from last, stayed on, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 6 1/2l behind Full Back (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Fado Des Brosses (FR) 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division, closer chasing leaders 10th, hit 15th, weakened soon after, 7th of 16, 28 3/4l behind Enqarde (10-9) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Laskalin (FR) 7-2jfav (11-12) Held up, headway to chase leaders 4 out, ridden before 4 out, ran on but no threat to winner after last, 2nd of 9, 7 1/2l behind Le Milos (11-12) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Eclair Mag (FR) 5-2fav (11-10) Held up, fell at 11th fence, at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Just Your Type (IRE) 18-1 (10-8) Chased leaders on inside, mid-division at 7th, lost place and towards rear 12th, rallied from 2 out, bad mistake last, stayed on into 4th towards finish, 4th of 16, 15 1/2l behind Enqarde (10-9) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Samuel Jackson 9-2 (11-8) Prominent, ridden and weakened 4 out, 4th of 9, 29 1/2l behind Le Milos (11-12) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Seaston Spirit 18-1 (10-13) Towards rear when badly hampered 11th, pulled up quickly, at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Go Whatever (IRE) 5-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led approaching next, clear from after 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Pemberley (10-7) by 7l, 15 ran.
Pemberley (IRE) 5-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 13th, went 2nd between last two, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 7l behind Go Whatever (10-4) at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Little Red Lion (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Always behind, pulled up 4 out, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Exod'ela (FR) 5-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced at 3 out, weakened, 6th of 7, dist behind Moroder (11-10) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Defuture Is Bright (IRE) 3-1cfav (10-11) In touch, pushed along 6th, lost place 11th, behind when pulled up 4 out, at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Colonel Keating (IRE) 6-1 (12-7) Tracked leader, going best in 2nd over 3 out, closed to challenge before last, ran on well to lead flat and on top closing stages, won at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (5) hvy in Dec beating Invincible Cave (11-3) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Echo Watt (FR) 5-1 (11-9) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd 7th until 5 out, chased leaders, outpaced from 3 out, 5th of 10, 12 1/4l behind Fairlawn Flyer (11-4) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
