prominent, led 4th, joined 14th, ridden and headed approachin 3 out, weakened last
prominent, joined leader 14th, mistake 16th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, weakened next
held up, headway 9th, joined leaders 16th, led before next, clear 2 out, ran on, eased towards finish, comfortable
close up in rear, headway to go 4th at 13th, ridden when weakened 4 out, tailed off
led narrowly, headed 4th, tracked leaders, pushed along 6th, ridden 9th, in rear next, blundered and weakened 15th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
in touch, headway to press leaders 7th, ridden and lost place 13th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Merlin's Wish won over 4m at Hexham last month so will have no problem staying this trip. Despite an 8lb higher mark, he should be in the firing-line again and makes more appeal than Towcester scorer Musical Wedge. Last year's winning stable is represented by Honest John, who won off a higher mark at Doncaster last year, while Mohi Rahrere is another potentially well treated on his best form. ORANGE NASSAU just failed in his hat-trick bid over this trip at Warwick earlier in the month. He's been raised 3lb since but Kielan Woods' claim takes care of that and he should take all the beating.
Orange Nassau (FR) 4-1fav (11-6) Prominent, led 16th, hard ridden when strongly challenged from 2 out, headed post, 2nd of 10, ns behind Leg Iron (11-3) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs.
Musical Wedge 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th, challenged 4 out, every chance when blundered last, stayed on to lead flat, won at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Nov beating Present To You (10-10) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Merlin's Wish 9-4fav (11-6) In touch on outside, led narrowly 4 out to next, regained lead 2 out, ridden and stayed on under pressure flat, won at Hexham 4m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Nov beating On Broadway (11-10) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Mohi Rahrere (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, mistake 5th and reminders, mistake 10th, challenged and mistake 5 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 32l behind Railway Dillon (11-6) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Epee Celeste (FR) 8-1 (9-7) Led, headed 6th, led again next, headed 12th, weakened soon after, tailed off, 4th of 6, 32l behind San Telm (11-0) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Ballyvoneen (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 2nd, mistake next, hit 13th, mistake 19th, struggling from next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Soudain (10-13) at Huntingdon 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Nov, 8 ran.
Honest John 7-1 (11-5) Always behind, tailed off before 10th, 6th of 10, 46l behind Sun Cloud (11-10) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft.
Nom de Guerre (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Led headed 3rd, tracked winner, ridden 4 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Balbriggan (11-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
