held up in last trio, in rear and reminders 14th, never on terms, tailed off
held up towards rear, steady headway when hit 5 out, pushed along in 4th before 4 out, 2nd 3 out, every chance next, ridden and no extra last
chased leaders on outside, went 2nd 5th, blundered 5 out, pushed along and lost 2nd before 4 out, still chance when blundered 4 out, weakened next
chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd until 5th, chased leaders, slightly hampered 5 out, weakened before 4 out, blundered next, blundered again 2 out and pulled up before last
towards rear, last pair and struggling 5 out, never a factor, tailed off
chased leader until 3rd, chased leaders, 2nd again before 4 out, led 3 out, in command last, stayed on well
chased leaders, hit 12th, outpaced after 5 out, plugging on in poor 4th when awkward 2 out, weakened into 5th after the last
held up in rear, some headway into last trio and struggling 5 out, stayed on from 3 out, went modest 4th after last
led until 3 out and dropped to 3rd, one pace and no chance with leading pair next
Nonrunner
This is a competitive-looking heat with Paul Nicholls running Aerial, who has been competing in hunter chases. Kilbree Kid could figure on his return from a break but King Massini continues to let down supporters while a visor would have to bring about plenty of improvement in Mart Lane. Midnight Lira has been raised 7lb since her narrow win at Stratford while Red Admirable was beaten in a lesser grade last time. Benevolent was driven out to beat GUIDING GEORGE by half-a-length at Fakenham last month but the runner-up would probably have won had he jumped the last cleanly. He's a couple of pounds better off here and can be another winner for the Skeltons.
Mart Lane (IRE) 25-1 (10-1) Led, headed 14 out, pushed along before and blundered 7 out, weakened before 5 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Duke Of Lucca (10-4) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd, 10 ran.
Aerial (FR) 1-2fav (11-12) Not much room when mistake 1st, towards rear, headway on inside tracking leaders before 5th, 2nd travelling well 3 out, every chance when mistake last, ridden and found little run-in, 2nd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Moscow Chancer (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f hts chs (6) gd in Mar.
Midnight Lira 12-1 (10-12) Disputed lead throughout, ridden after 2 out, narrow advantage approaching last, stayed on gamely under pressure flat, held on, won at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Mar beating Edmund Kean (11-3) by nk, 11 ran.
Cloudy Bob (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 10th, every chance before 4 out, 6th and weakening when jumped right, mistake and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Hollow Blue Sky (9-10) at Haydock 2m 6f hcp chs (2) sft, 15 ran.
Benevolent (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, joined leader 3 out, ridden to lead narrowly approaching last, bumped and headed flat, rallied to lead again final strides, won at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar beating Guiding George (11-3) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Kilbree Kid (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Towards rear, headway before 10 out, led 3 out, headed next, lost 2nd place before last, no extra, 3rd of 12, 22l behind Royale Knight (11-1) at Sedgefield 3m 6f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Oct.
Guiding George (IRE) 8-11fav (11-3) Jumped slow 1st 7th and 13th, made most until joined 3 out, ridden next, driven and headed narrowly approaching last, pecked on landing, rallied to lead again flat, headed final strides, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Benevolent (11-1) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
King Massini (IRE) 5-4fav (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 9th, mistake 5 out, blundered badly next, staying on same pace when mistake last, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Unknown Legend (9-13) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Sergeant Dick (IRE) 100-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, fell 1st, in a race won by On The Fringe (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (2) gs, 29 ran.
Red Admirable (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) With leader, led 3rd, headed after 10th, led next, not fluent 14th, headed 3 out, no extra from next, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 6, 26l behind Tothemoonandback (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
