held up, bumped 4th, headway 11th, ridden after next, went 3rd 2 out, no impression, slightly short of room and demoted to 4th flat
prominent, went 2nd after 4th, mistake next, led 12th, headed after next, mistake 3 out, no extra last
led, mistake 11th, headed next, led again after 13th, headed 4 out, stayed on same pace, lost 2nd post
chased leaders until 10th, blundered 12th, pulled up before 4 out
held up, hit 5th, not fluent 6th or next, headway 10th, hit 13th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
took keen hold in touch on outside, awkward 1st, not fluent 4th, 5th or 7th, bad mistake 9th (water), soon pulled up
took keen hold, mistakes, chased leader until after 4th, prominent, ridden 13th, stayed on same pace from 3 out, went 2nd post, no impression on winner
held up, mistake 1st, not fluent next, jumped left and bumped 4th, steady headway from 6th, led 4 out, drew clear from next
chased leaders until 3rd, behind 10th, tailed off
Esteem unseated his rider back over fences at Southwell yesterday but Civil Servant has to go on the short-list as he's made the frame in both starts this term, including over C&D six weeks ago. The grey gets 9lb from penalised Huntingdon winner Oscar Close who is difficult to predict. But we'll take him on with TOP BENEFIT, who had some decent form last season and will be all the better for a pipe-opener at Wincanton. Jason Maguire will give the 10-year-old every assistance from the saddle. This Way has lost his way a little lately but may still be the pick of the remainder.
Oscar Close (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Held up, headway on inside from 11th, not fluent 3 out, led before next, soon clear, easily, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft beating Sambelucky (10-9) by 20l, 8 ran.
Civil Servant 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 9th, soon lost place, reminders before 10th, kept on from 4 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 12l behind Qualitee (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Dec.
Top Benefit (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Led until 7th, led again after next, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, last of 7, 39l behind Good Order (11-10) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Diamond Twister (USA) 100-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, well behind Mangonel (10-7) at Kempton 2m cond nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Nov.
Salut Honore (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, went 4th before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 16, well behind Ukrainian Star (11-7) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
This Way (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Started slowly, in rear, mistake 5th, no chance in 7th when mistake and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Triple Bluff (10-0) at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Laughing Game 100-1 (10-7) Chased leader until 4th, not fluent next, behind 10th, tailed off, last of 6, 46l behind Alasi (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f mrs nov chs (5yo+) (4) gs.
Esteem 12-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders in chasing group, went 2nd before 4th, 5 lengths off winner 2 out, hung left flat, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Johnny Owen (10-2) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft.
Finnegans Rainbow 50-1 (9-7) Behind, tailed off when pulled up before 10th, in a race won by Doberdan (10-11) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
