chased leaders, briefly led before 3 out, soon headed, kept on at same pace from 2 out
midfield, not fluent 4th, fell 5th
tracked leaders, pushed along before 3 out and briefly outpaced, cajoled along and stayed on well again after 2 out, one pace after last
in rear, rousted along and made headway before 3 out, soon pushed along, weakened on approach to last
prominent, pushed along and lost position before 4 out, soon weakened further, pulled up before 3 out
just better than midfield, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, no impact from 2 out
held up towards rear, smooth headway before 4 out, challenged for 3rd before 2 out, went 2nd after last, not match for winner
midfield, lost position before 4 out, soon outpaced and cajoled along, weakened gradually from 3 out
midfield, niggled along and headway before 4 out, led 3 out, extended advantage after 2 out, ran on flat, always doing enough
towards rear, mistakes, pushed along and progress before 3 out, soon ridden and weakened before last
led, cajoled along and headed before 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened and tailed off before 2 out
Red Giant led until the second-last in the Lincolnshire National here on Boxing Day and pops up every now and again. Four of his rivals are also previous course winners with FORGOT TO ASK the most interesting having stayed on strongly to score at Plumpton in March despite being the outsider of three. As You Like’s third at Southwell last month was his best run for a while and he’s been dropped a further pound since and it’s interesting that Tom Lacey has chosen a handicap for Neville's Cross to make his debut over the larger obstacles. The six-year-old won twice over hurdles in the autumn and should make a chaser. Larkbarrow Lad has retained his novice status for another season and Philip Hobbs will find a race for him in due course.
Royal Village (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) In rear, not fluent throughout, hard ridden before halfway, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Neville's Cross (IRE) 17-2 (11-8) In touch, headway last(usual 3 out), no impression after, 3rd of 8, 16 1/4l behind Giovanni Change (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Held up in mid-division, towards rear from 12th, tailed off, 13th of 16, dist behind Vintage Clouds (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Larkbarrow Lad 6-1 (10-12) Led into start, held up in rear, not fluent 10th, headway when not fluent 4 out, no impression 2 out, went 3rd last, 3rd of 10, 11 1/2l behind Mac Tottie (11-0) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Red Giant (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Prominent, led after 4th, slow next and headed briefly, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no extra from last, 6th of 14, 25l behind Who's In The Box (10-7) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
The Vollan (IRE) 150-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, 20th final bend, well behind 3 out, last of 22, dist behind Tronador (10-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
As You Like (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders in close 4th, 2nd after 3 out until before next, 3rd and bad blunder 2 out, not recover, 3rd of 7, 7 1/2l behind William Of Orange (11-11) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Dancing In The Sky (IRE) 10-1 (11-13) Midfield, pushed along 4 out, no extra, 4th of 10, 23l behind Benevolentdictator (10-11) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Forgot To Ask (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Waited with in 3rd and off the pace, closer at 13th, went 2nd before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, driven and closer between last 2, upsides and dived last, ran on to lead inside final 100 yards, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Faustinovick (11-6) by 3/4l, 3 ran.
Compadre (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Held up, headway to track leaders before 4 out, going best and led 3 out, shaken up before 2 out, went clear before last but weakened on run-in, headed final 110 yards, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Snuff Box (11-7) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
I Just Know (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Led early, disputing lead after 2nd, jumped right 4th and reminder, jumped right 6 out, mistake 5 out and ridden, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 32 1/4l behind She'sasupermack (11-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
