led, mistake 6th, not fluent 7th, pressed 5 out, headed 4 out, clear 2nd 3 out, switched left 2 out, ran on gamely and 2-lengths down last, no closer
refused to race
tracked leader, not fluent 11th, pressed leader after 5 out, led 4 out, ridden along 2 out, 2-lengths clear last, maintained advantage run-in
towards rear, closer in 3rd 9th, awkward 10th, slow and not fluent 11th, soon struggling, detached before 4 out and pulled up
in rear, slightly closer when ridden before 4 out, well held
towards rear, some headway to track leading pair on the run to 4 out, not fluent 4 out, ridden 3 out, held and weakened after 2 out
Pileon has every chance at the weights and better is expected today having struggled at Cheltenham on his chasing debut. Annsam ended last year with a double over hurdles but fell on his first start over fences while Seven De Baune didn’t get very far at Market Rasen before unseating. HOUSE ISLAND was no match for the winner when second at Newbury on his chasing bow but showed promise and will know more today.
Annsam 18-1 (11-1) Chased leader, pulled hard, fell 7th, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Don Bersy (FR) 4-7fav (12-3) Ref to race, at Chaddesley Corbett 3m gs in Feb.
House Island (IRE) 10-3 (11-5) Tracked winner, pushed along before 4 out, went left next, ridden and dropped to 3rd between last 2, left well beaten 2nd last, 2nd of 5, 12l behind Kalooki (11-5) at Newbury 2m 6f (3) gd in Nov.
Pileon (IRE) 7-4fav (11-3) Blundered 1st, in rear, mistake 8th, detached 10th, tailed off before 3 out, last of 4, dist behind Southfield Stone (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Oct.
Rob The Getaway (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Midfield, towards rear 6th, well adrift 4 out, steady progress into a modest 3rd 3 out, came home in own time, 3rd of 6, dist behind Mighty Thunder (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f (4) sft in Oct.
Seven De Baune (FR) 33-1 (11-3) Close-up, dropped to midfield when mistake 2nd and unseated rider, at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
