held up towards rear, mistake 9th, headway approaching 4 out, soon went 3rd, stayed on, never threatened
tracked leaders, led 4th, ridden and strongly pressed from 4 out, stayed on gamely flat
led until 4th, lost place 9th, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, mistake 5th (water), ridden and lost place 8th, behind after next, tailed off
prominent, weakened after 9th, mistake 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, some headway when blundered 9th, soon weakened, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd 9th, challenged approaching 4 out, ridden before last, outbattled and no impression flat
tracking leaders 1st, ridden after 9th, 3rd and no impression when blundered 4 out, tailed off
prominent until 2nd, behind and ridden after 5th, pulled up before 9th
held up in rear, hit 3rd and unseated rider
ESTEEM alternates between hurdles and fences but both wins have come over the larger obstacles and, though he still has a bit learn about jumping and carries a penalty here, he was successful over 2m4f here last month and will take all the beating again with a clear round. Akarshan has been placed in four of his eight starts over fences and could figure again if the visor concentrates his mind but Meneur appears to have lost his way and Roc De Guye didn't have to be at his best to beat weak opposition at Fakenham in November. Pin D'Estruval could be interesting, however, as the ground is back in his favour and he should be winning again when the handicapper relents a little.
Park Lane 50-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair in touch, struggling when left moderate 4th 9th, no chance with leaders, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Prince Of Pirates (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs in Dec.
Akarshan (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, blundered and hampered 1st, mistake 3rd, hit 11th, hampered 13th, soon outpaced, stayed on flat, no impression, 5th of 7, 9l behind Stormhoek (10-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Jan.
Pin D'Estruval (FR) 20-1 (11-1) Not fluent 1st, pressed leader until 3rd, stayed handy until 9th, soon weakened, 8th of 9, well behind All For Free (11-9) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Piroulet (FR) 33-1 (10-1) Mid-division, ridden and lost place 6th, well beaten 3 out, 9th of 12, 38l behind Ted Spread (10-13) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Thunder Child 9-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, closed 6th, fell next, in a race won by Triple Bluff (10-0) at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Roc De Guye (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Raced keenly, led 2nd, clear 6th to after 4 out, headed after next, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 19l behind Original Prankster (11-12) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
Esteem 13-8fav (11-9) Held up in touch, headway to 4th 4 out, chased winner before next, ridden and no extra between last 2, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Bendant (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Meneur (FR) 13-2 (11-3) Held up towards rear, outpaced when mistake 4 out, weakened next, behind when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Bohemian Rock (10-3) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec, 9 ran.
Chargen (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) In rear, pushed along 5th, never dangerous, tailed off, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Tipsy Dara (10-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
Grasscutter (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) In rear, mistake 2nd, behind 6th, mistake 3 out, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Kid Cassidy (11-0) at Ludlow 2m beg chase (4) gs in Jan.
