always towards rear
led 1st, headed approaching 4th, led 6th, blundered and unseated rider 3 out
held up in rear, not much room before 1st, not fluent 5th, headway 3 out, led and hit 2 out, headed approaching last, weakened flat
prominent, not fluent 4th, lost place and hung right 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, ridden 5th, some headway approaching 2 out, no impression
prominent, blundered 3rd, ridden when mistake 3 out, soon lost place
prominent, took keen hold, mistake 5th, ridden when badly hampered and lost place approaching 2 out, well held after
in touch in mid-division, closing when not fluent 7th, hampered 3 out, soon ridden, no impression on leaders when mistake last
took keen hold, led until 1st, with leader, led again approaching 4th until 6th, left in lead 3 out, headed when badly hampered and lost place approaching 2 out
held up in rear, took keen hold, some headway under pressure approaching 2 out, no impression
held up towards rear, steady headway after 5th, led approaching 2 out, soon headed, led again before last, headed flat, stayed on, held close home
ridden 4th, always in rear, well beaten after 3 out
mid-division, struggling after 3 out
prominent, ridden 3 out, no extra flat
mid-division, headway 7th, not much room approaching 2 out, challenged last, led flat, ridden out
took keen hold, mid-division, headway when not clear run approaching 2 out, went 3rd flat, not trouble front pair
Carrickmines is much better known as a staying chaser and has never won over hurdles, though he's on a 10lb lower mark at present. Lemon Silk has been unable to cope with a big weight rise after scoring at Exeter in October but will be happier back on good going. The ex-Irish Stonethrower made a very promising debut for Tim Vaughan at Hereford in January, his first start since April, and should go well as should Skipper Robin on his handicap debut providing his jumping holds together. Willandrich ended the last campaign on a hat-trick and though well beaten this term he's raced over longer trips. HIPPODROME invariably runs well on this track, however, as he did when runner-up to Viscount Rossini over C&D in November. He's not badly treated and gets the vote in a tricky contest.
Be Definite (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Blundered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov '09, 14 ran.
Stonethrower (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Held up, headway 8th, challenged after 3 out, hard ridden after next, lost 2nd and beaten approaching last, 4th of 13, 10l behind Salpierre (11-10) at Hereford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Carrickmines (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) In rear, not fluent 6th or 9th, some headway 12th, fell 14th, in a race won by West End Rocker (11-11) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Dec, 13 ran.
Skipper Robin (FR) 17-2 (10-9) Prominent, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, 4th and beaten when not fluent 2 out, 4th of 16, 16l behind De Forgotten Man (10-12) at Towcester 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Very Edgy (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Towards rear, some headway approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 16, 39l behind Gus Macrae (11-1) at Hereford 2m 1f NH mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Carndonagh (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased winner and keen, ridden after 2 out, one pace, 4th of 12, 9l behind Pure Faith (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Nov.
Willandrich (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 4th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 37l behind Salpierre (11-10) at Hereford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Tricky Tree (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Held up in touch, chased leading pair after 4 out, chased winner approaching 3 out until after next, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 14, 8l behind Moon Indigo (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Tahiti Pearl (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, lost place and behind when not fluent 4th, soon struggling, tailed off 3 out, 8th of 12, well behind Warne's Way (11-8) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Lemon Silk (IRE) 4-1fav (11-7) Behind, ridden and headway after 2 out, went 3rd before last, kept on, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 17, 19l behind Prince Du Seuil (11-12) at Folkestone 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Farmers Cross (IRE) 15-2 (10-1) Towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, hit last, kept on same pace, no impression, 6th of 11, 10l behind Pyracantha (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Life Long (IRE) 80-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 6th of 17, 25l behind Habbie Simpson (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Hippodrome (IRE) 10-1 (10-1) Held up mid-division, pushed along after 5th, ridden after 3 out, kept on one pace from 2 out, 4th of 11, 15l behind No Principles (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Madame Jasmine 66-1 (10-5) Mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, no impression from next, 7th of 16, 41l behind Prince Of Pirates (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gd in Dec.
Apache Chant (USA) 11-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced approaching 3 out, kept on under pressure from 2 out, never on terms, 4th of 8, 19l behind Smokey George (10-13) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
What A Steel (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Held up behind, headway after 4 out, went 4th before 3 out, no extra final 100 yards, 4th of 14, 9l behind Too Cool To Fool (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
