tracked leader until before 5th, chased leaders on inside, hung right home turn, went 3rd 4 out, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, 2nd going well enough before 4 out, ridden before next, well held when lost 2nd at the last, no extra in 3rd run-in
jumped left most of way, jumped slowly 1st, off the pace in 5th, headway out wide tracking leaders 9th (water), jumped slowly again 10th, went left and reminders 12th, soon weakened, tailed off
cajoled along in rear, gained a place but still plenty to do 13th, closer and hung right before 2 out, went 2nd at the last, switched left and ran on well run-in, carried left close home, just failed
raced keenly in 3rd, went 2nd before 5th, led 12th, clear when went left 3 out, 4 lengths ahead when hit 2 out, ridden and still 4 lengths ahead at the last, hung left run-in, all out to hold on
led until 12th, chased winner until pushed along before 4 out, hit 4 out, soon weakened
NonRunner
Though raised a further 3lb since his latest second at Lingfield, Chambard is still on a decent mark. Gortroe Joe has had a break but should run his race again if fully primed but Quoi De Neuf failed to handle a 10lb hike in the ratings at Taunton. Lock's Corner remains out of sorts while Tight Call was a well-beaten last of three on his chasing bow in November. ISOLATE is marginally preferred to Leicester runner-up Crealion with the latter yet to win since arriving from France. Alan King’s runner was a good second to Java Point over track and trip last time with the winner running well since in a hot handicap at Cheltenham.
Gortroe Joe (IRE) 11-4 (11-9) Led chasing group, closed 4 out, every chance 3 out, led soon after, ridden and ran on (only 8 fences jumped, all fences in back straight omitted), won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Broken Quest (11-7) by 11l, 6 ran.
Quoi De Neuf (FR) 9-4 (11-8) Mistakes, tracked leader on inside, hit 2nd, lost 2nd at 5th, hit 8th, pushed along after 4 out, went 3rd and no impression before next, 3rd of 4, 18 3/4l behind Golden Boy Grey (10-11) at Taunton 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Lock's Corner (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, slow jump 4 out, soon pushed along and weakened quickly, last of 7, dist behind Falco Blitz (11-12) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Chambard (FR) 15-2 (10-10) Raced wide, held up, headway chasing leaders 9th, went 2nd bypassing omitted 4 out, hit next, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Zhiguli (11-1) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Isolate (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Mid-division, raced keenly, blundered badly 3rd, headway 8th, chased winner before 2 out, went left last, held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Java Point (11-11) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Crealion (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Raced keenly, led, ridden and headed 2 out, chased winner, ridden and one pace run-in, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Family Business (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Tight Call (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Led, mistake 10th, mistake 3 out, lost place and ridden after 3 out, stayed on one pace, eased closing stages, finished tired, last of 3, 17l behind Beatthebullet (11-5) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
