Four Strong Winds continues to frustrate while Folie A Deux is also becoming expensive to follow and could probably do with dropping a few pounds in the handicap. Arctic Ben still has some scope over fences, however, while it will be interesting to see how Oscar Prairie fares over the larger obstacles as he's not badly treated on his form over hurdles. But we'll give another chance to PLUNKETT, who wasn't disgraced on his handicap debut at Ffos Las and has dropped a couple of pounds since. The consistent Prophete De Guye has had a break since finishing third over 3m here in November and may find this trip on the sharp side.
Arctic Ben (IRE) 2-1 (11-0) Led, headed briefly 3 out, headed last, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 3, 1 1/2l behind Clouseau (11-0) at Taunton 2m nov chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Royal Wedding 28-1 (11-10) Hampered 1st, in touch, dropped to mid-division 5th, headway on outside before 5 out, kept on same pace from next, never on terms, 6th of 18, 23l behind Rimini (11-5) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
Four Strong Winds (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Raced freely, led and soon clear, headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Ballybach (11-0) at Folkestone 2m mdn chs (5) hvy.
Master Somerville 9-1 (11-3) Hit 1st, tracked leader until 5th, mistake and lost place 10th, pulled up before 12th, in a race won by Holmwood Legend (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Plunkett (IRE) 11-2 (10-8) Raced in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, stayed on approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 17l behind Royal Tune (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Oscar Prairie (IRE) 4-9fav (11-10) Led until 2nd, stayed chasing leaders, led briefly before 2 out, soon no chance with winner, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Rosoff (10-5) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Folie A Deux (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Jumped left, led, mistake 5th, blundered 7th, ridden and headed before 3 out, stayed in 3rd, no impression when weakened to 4th soon after 2 out, 4th of 6, 15l behind I'm A Legend (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Marc Aurele (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear on outside, behind 7th, headway approaching 4 out, no impression, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 30l behind Anquetta (11-7) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Prophete de Guye (FR) 5-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear and keen, headway 12th, went 3rd approaching 4 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Midnight Haze (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Tyup Pompey (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Led, not fluent 1st, headed 4th, prominent, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 12, well behind Brenin Cwmtudu (10-8) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Aberdeen Park 50-1 (10-13) Chased winner, led 3rd, headed and lost place 10th, rallied to well held 4th bypassing ommited 4 out, tailed off, 4th of 9, well behind Sona Sasta (11-0) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Bennynthejets (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Tracked winner for majority of race, ridden 3 out, demoted to 3rd 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 27l behind Mud Monkey (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Magnetic Pole 10-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, pushed along 4th, headway after 9th, weakened 10th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Douglas Julian (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 9 ran.
Alexander Beetle 20-1 (10-3) Held up in touch, pushed along 9th, about 8th and looked struggling when fell 11th, in a race won by Little George (11-5) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Festival Dreams 16-1 (10-8) With leader, led 4th, blundered badly 4 out, soon ridden, headed after 2 out, weakened flat, lost 3rd post, 4th of 12, 11l behind Brenin Cwmtudu (10-8) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
