chased leaders, lost place 9th, struggling from next, well beaten after 13th
led, not fluent and headed 8th, soon led again, headed 9th, outpaced 13th, beaten before 4 out, weakened next
held up in rear, headway 8th, lost place before 10th, well beaten from 13th
chased leader until 6th, outpaced after 13th, 4th and no impression when mistake last
held up in rear, closed 10th, went 2nd next, challenging when left in lead and slithered badly on landing 4 out, stayed on well
chased leaders, went 2nd 6th, led 8th, soon headed, led again next, pressed when blundered badly and headed 4 out, held after, stayed on
NonRunner
The veteran GARDEFORT (NAP) hasn't run since placed in a Class 2 handicap in March but his stable is in outstanding form. Five times a winner over fences, he's on his lowest-ever mark and Lucy Turner can claim 7lb so he's handed the vote to turn back the years. Bobhopeornohope has won between the flags, twice over hurdles and made it third-time lucky over fences at Market Rasen on Boxing Day where he made all. He's up 5lb but should make a bold bid from the front. Four-times chase winner Not A Role Model needs to bounce back from a poor run at Fakenham but his previous run at Chepstow would put him in the frame while Karl Philippe reportedly broke a blood vessel at Ascot after a promising start over fences at Carlisle.
Topofthecotswolds (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) Towards rear mid-division, mistake 4 out, ridden and gradually faded from 2 out, 7th of 13, 28 1/4l behind Coole Cody (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Bobhopeornohope (IRE) 11-4 (11-6) Prominent, ridden and headed at 3 out, rallied to lead before 2 out, kept on after final fence, won gamely, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Omar Maretti (11-9) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Minella Till Dawn (IRE) 40-1 (12-0) In rear, well beaten 13th, pulled up before 4 out, at Haydock 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Not A Role Model (IRE) 3-1cfav (11-13) Close up, tracked leaders 6th, pecked on landing 8th, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 6, 25 1/4l behind Admiral Barratry (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Karl Philippe (FR) 9-2 (10-11) Tracked leading pair, tracked winner 4th, led next, went left and headed 4 out, ridden and lost 2nd before 2 out, 3rd and beaten when blundered 2 out, weakened, hit last, 5th of 8, 21 1/4l behind Brave Seasca (11-0) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Gardefort (FR) 10-3 (10-10) Tracked leader, close up after 7th, led before 3 out, headed on approach to next, lost further ground before last, cajoled along and kept on well again flat, up again for 3rd close home, 3rd of 6, 6 1/4l behind Smooth Stepper (11-9) at Carlisle 3m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
No Getaway (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, pressed leader 3 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out, pulled up before last, at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
