chased leaders, went 3rd 5th until next, driven and weakened 4 out
held up in mid-division, headway 7th, went 3rd going well after 8th, challenged 4 out, led next, driven and stayed on well flat
held up towards rear, steady headway to chasee leaders before 3 out, kept on flat, nearest finish
chased leaders, went 2nd before 5th, led before 4 out, mistake and headed next, chased winner under pressure until before 2 out, weakened flat
behind, ridden and struggling approaching 4th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
chased leader, went left 1st, slow and lost place 5th, rallied next, reminders after 8th, challenged and hit 4 out, soon ridden, driven and went 2nd before 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
always behind, tailed off when fell 2 out
led, clear 4th, ridden and headed before 4 out, blundered and lost 2nd next, weakened quickly
went left 1st, in rear, tailed off when mistake 8th
always towards rear, ridden and struggling after 4th, tailed off 8th
Tom Du Lys, a dual winning hurdler in France, has shown nothing in two starts for Nicky Henderson and doesn't have a chasers pedigree. Ugo has been making good progress over hurdles and wasn't beaten far in a Listed contest at Market Rasen last time while Furrows showed some promise on his debut over fences at Hereford last month. Heez A Cracker has been very unfortunate not to have won over fences as he was clear when falling two out on his chasing bow at Wetherby and was beaten a short-head at Catterick last month. He's an obvious threat to all but SUSTAINABILITY could have his measure. Venetia Williams' charge, who completed a four-timer over hurdles a year ago, battled on stoutly to score over 2m3f at Newbury and his rider will ensure this is run at a fast pace to bring his stamina into play.
Big News 5-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching next, 5th of 9, 29l behind High Storm (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in May.
Chiquilline (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, in touch 4th, chased leaders before 3 out, weakened approaching next, 4th of 9, 29l behind Two Rockers (11-5) at Towcester 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Filbert (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Chased leaders to 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Loose Chips (11-7) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
Furrows 20-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, in touch 4 out, never near leaders, jumped left and no impression 2 out, 4th of 7, 12l behind Vulcanite (11-0) at Hereford 2m nov chs (4) sft in Dec.
Heez A Cracker (FR) 3-1fav (11-0) In touch, went 3rd after 4th, taken wide back straight, hit 7th, went 2nd 4 out, challenged next, led 2 out, 4 lengths clear when not fluent last, soon ridden, hard pressed flat, headed post, 2nd of 9, shd behind Jackies Solitaire (9-13) at Catterick 2m beg chs (3) hvy in Dec.
Sarraco (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, 9th 4 out, soon eased, pulled up before next, in a race won by Balbriggan (11-3) at Bangor 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Oct, 15 ran.
Sustainability (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, led narrowly next, mistake 9th, headed 11th, led again 4 out, mistake next, clear before last, stayed on well, won at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec beating Double Dash (11-1) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Dungeness 9-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, lost place before 3 out and soon pushed along, 11th of 12, 32l behind Rocky Elsom (11-1) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Tom Du Lys (FR) 6-1 (11-5) In touch, lost place before 2 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last, in a race won by Dark Lover (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec, 17 ran.
Ugo (USA) 20-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, headway when mistake
Hazy Dawn 5-1 (11-2) Led, not fluent 3rd, ridden and headed after 3 out, no impression last, 4th of 7, 9l behind Jupiter Rex (11-8) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
