held up, mistake and reminders 5th, soon struggling, behind when pulled up before 9th
held up in rear, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened
in touch, driven and effort when blundered 3 out, soon weakened
held up when fell heavily 1st
tracked leaders, lost place 7th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, 4th and no impression 2 out, stayed on strongly to press winner towards finish, just held
soon prominent, tracked winner 7th, effort 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, lost 2nd towards finish
mid-division, reminder 2nd, outpaced when hit 8th, weakened and pulled up before 10th
made all, ridden last, stayed on under pressure flat, just held on
towards rear, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
chased winner to 7th, ridden and effort 3 out, kept on same pace from next
Nonrunner
Paul Callaghan's TOULOUSE EXPRESS has an 8lb rise to overcome if he is to follow up his success at Sedgefield last month but he won with plenty in hand that day and is taken to do so with the main dangers rated as Baltic Pathfinder and Quazy de Joie. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding has shown improved form in his last two starts and lost no caste in defeat when two lengths third behind Fine By Me at Warwick last month on his most recent start but an 8lb rise for that run makes this more difficult. Take It There should appreciate the return to hurdles having disappointed on the flat recently but he seems to be too high in the weights now following his earlier success here. Don McCain's Original Fly ran better at Ayr last time on his return to chasing and has solid claims racing off the same mark today. He makes more appeal than Chris Bealby's Extra Smooth, who has struggled against the handicapper since his win at Wetherby in October. Sue Smith's Baltic Pathfinder has improved with each start this term and has to be respected on ground that suits but Toulouse Express won so well last time that he can follow up off his new mark.
Lukie Victor (IRE) 40-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, tailed off from 7th, 10th of 11, well behind Iconoclast (11-6) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Livingonaknifedge (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, ridden and weakened after 4 out, 5th of 7, 27l behind Nirvana Swing (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
King Of The Arctic (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Held up, tracked leaders 5th, outpaced 4 out, 5th of 8, 23l behind Pamak D'airy (11-6) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Quazy de Joie (FR) 7-2fav (11-2) Held up in rear, headway 14th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure towards finish, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Fine By Me (9-13) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Bobby Gee 9-2 (10-13) Not jump well, soon well behind, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Pickamus (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Take It There 11-4fav (11-5) Held up, headway and in touch 9th, driven and effort approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 3rd of 10, 19l behind Sagalyrique (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Original Fly (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Held up, mistake 5th, blundered 5 out, ridden approaching 3 out, went 3rd approaching last, kept on to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Duke of Malfi (10-11) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Toulouse Express (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Led to 5th, remained in touch, led again 9th, ridden 2 out, stayed on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec beating Baltic Pathfinder (11-2) by 10l, 10 ran.
Extra Smooth 4-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 4 out, no extra after last, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Ayemdee (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Sparkling Taff 12-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, behind from 8th, weakened from 14th, 8th of 10, well behind Youngstown (11-9) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
Baltic Pathfinder (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, headway to challenge 4 out, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Toulouse Express (10-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
