chased leaders, went 2nd after 6th, led approaching 3 out, soon edged left, not fluent 2 out, pecked last, soon headed, stayed on same pace
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, close 3rd when not much room last, soon switched left, stayed on same pace
led, jumped left, soon clear, headed when mistake 3 out, weakened next
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway after 6th, hit 3 out, challenged last, soon led, edged left flat, ridden out
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, hit 3rd, blundered 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, lost place approaching 6th, soon behind, tailed off
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, ridden after 6th, soon lost touch, pulled up before last
chased leaders, lost place when hit 6th, soon behind, tailed off
held up in mid-division, jumped left, headway approaching 6th, challenging when mistake 3 out, stayed on same pace flat
chased clear leader, jumped left 1st and 2nd, ridden after 6th, soon lost 2nd and weakened, tailed off
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 3rd, headway after 6th, switched right when hit 2 out, hung left and one pace flat, no impression
Tayarat, one of a couple of C&D winners in the race, should ensure there is no hanging about here and that may stretch the stamina of Aviso who has been in cracking form on the all-weather lately. Cityar looks to have improved a little lately and is chasing a hat-trick after wins here and at Catterick, while Swiss Art has every chance at the weights if reproducing last season's best form. COMMERCE has been well beaten in both starts so far over hurdles but she ran a lot better than the final result suggests at Hereford last time and may be allowed to start at generous odds in this. Dai Burchell's mare gets a tentative vote.
Cityar (FR) 5-2fav (10-13) In touch, headway to lead approaching 2out, ridden out, won at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec beating Quam Celerrime (10-6) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Swiss Art (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Held up, headway to 4th approaching 3 out, went 3rd approaching next, weakened flat, lost modest 3rd close home, 4th of 9, 11l behind Mujamead (9-11) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Tayarat (IRE) 66-1 (10-2) Often jumped left, led until approaching 4th, weakened after, 8th of 11, well behind Grams And Ounces (11-3) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Aviso (GER) 25-1 (10-8) With leaders and keen, ridden 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 6th of 15, 14l behind Banyan Tree (11-4) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (5) gd in Dec.
Billy Blade 20-1 (10-12) In rear, jumped first slow, hit 2nd, weakened before 3 out, last of 8, well behind Christopher Wren (10-12) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Casco Bay (IRE) 66-1 (10-4) Prominent in chasing group, ridden after 4th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Johnny Owen (10-2) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft, 12 ran.
Minortransgression (USA) 100-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, weakened from 4 out, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Banyan Tree (10-12) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Jul.
Red Dagger (IRE) 11-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, headway when mistake 5th, close 4th last, no extra flat, 5th of 16, 10l behind Hollies Favourite (11-3) at Worcester 2m sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Jun.
Commerce 125-1 (10-7) Towards rear, ridden before 3 out, plugged on, never on terms, 7th of 16, well behind Tempest River (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Court Wing (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Pulled hard, held up in last pair, in touch 5th, lost place 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Absinthe (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Karacas (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Raced wide, in touch, headway approaching 7th, went 4tfh and hit 3 out, no extra before next, 4th of 8, 28l behind American Cricket (11-9) at Leicester 2m 4f sell hdl (5) sft.
