chased leaders, effort before 3 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, never on terms
held up, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, weakened before 3 out
held, up in mid-division, weakened 4 out
always prominent, led 4 out, headed 2 out, no extra closing stages
in touch, headway 3 out, every chance 2 out, weakened after last
held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, led next, driven clear last, ran on well
led until 4 out, rallied next, weakened before last
mid-division, under pressure 4th, headway to chase leaders when unseated rider 5th
chased leaders, lost place before 3 out
prominent, effort 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders, hard ridden 3 out, no extra closing stages
BRAHMS DE CLERMONT won two bumpers on good ground, the second of them at Cheltenham, and started favourite for a Listed bumper on that track but didn't appear to handle the softer going. He has a very smart pedigree for jumping and should be given another chance. River Wylde started a short-priced favourite when Paul Nicholls' charge scored at Cheltenham after a very easy victory at Warwick but ran poorly and is another who should do much better. Woodfort has twice finished behind the selection but Monbeg Oscar went for £90,000 after landing a point at Oldcastle by a distance and had a run in a bumper last month so he'll be ready to make his debut over timber. Melrose Boy made his debut over hurdles at Uttoxeter where he was in the lead at this trip before staying on at one pace over 2m4f. He looks a decent stayer in the making so could find this on the short side.
Brahms De Clermont (FR) 11-8fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, pushed along over 5f out, lost place over 3f out, 6th of 11, 14 1/2l behind Poetic Rhythm (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Crack Du Tay (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, plugged on but no real headway final 2f, 6th of 13, 27 1/4l behind Western Ryder (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m (4) gd in May.
Dennis Our Menace 100-1 (10-12) Hampered and unseated rider 1st, at Towcester 2m mdn (5) gs in Dec.
Hurricane Hunter (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Lost plce 6; eff 15; no imp 3 out, 4th of 8, 30 1/4l behind The Wexfordian (12-0) at Black Forest Lodge 3m mdn gf in Nov.
Le Coeur Net (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten next, 10th of 18, 32 3/4l behind Movewiththetimes (11-4) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gs in Dec.
Max Dynamo 125-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, pushed along over 5f out, never dangerous, 7th of 9, 25l behind Fisherman Frank (11-0) at Worcester 2m (6) gd in Jul.
Melrose Boy (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, prominent, not fluent 6th, led after next, not fluent 2 out, headed before last, no extra flat, 3rd of 18, 9l behind Rolling Dylan (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Monbeg Oscar (IRE) 7-2jfav (11-0) Held up, towards rear, headway over 4f out, 4th over 1f out, not trouble leaders, 4th of 12, 6 1/4l behind Benechenko (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m (5) sft in Nov.
Otter Moon 14-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden and one pace over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 4th of 8, 9 1/4l behind Robin The Raven (11-2) at Towcester 2m mdn (5) gd in Nov.
River Wylde (IRE) 13-8fav (11-7) Held up, not much room over 7f out, headway on outside over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 12th of 16, dist behind Brahms De Clermont (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (3) gd in Oct.
Seymour Star 14-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, lost place 4th, well beaten after 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Wolftrap (11-10) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Triopas (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, outpaced over 3f out, well beaten final 2f, 7th of 14, 11 1/4l behind Gustave Mahler (11-12) at Aintree 2m 1f (3) gf in May.
Uncle Percy 2-1fav (10-9) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 27l behind Turn Turk (10-5) at Worcester 2m (6) gd in Jun.
Whispering Nick 150-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, mistake 4th, pushed along and struggling after 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Newbury 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Woodfort 14-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, ridden over 6f out, struggling final 5f, 8th of 11, 34l behind Poetic Rhythm (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Yorgonnahearmeroar (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 6th, ridden 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 10, 5 1/2l behind Old Salt (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) sft in Nov.
