led 2nd, not fluent 3rd, headed 5th, jumped left next, led 17th, headed 18th, weakened before 4 out, left 4th 2 out
prominent, led 5th, jumped left 13th and 14th, headed 17th, weakened from 19th, pulled up after 20th
prominent until 1st, chased leaders, reminder 15th, weakened before 4 out, left 3rd when mistake 2 out
towards rear, not fluent 1st or 5th, last 9th, pulled up before 11th
mid-division, headway 5th, led 18th, clear 4 out, left further clear 2 out, stayed on
jumped left, in rear, headway 9th, lost place 12th, effort 16th, weakened from 18th, pulled up after 20th
held up towards rear, headway 14th, mistake next, went 2nd before 4 out, mistake 3 out, about 6 lengths off winner when fell 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake 11th, fell 13th
led until 2nd, chased leaders, not fluent 15th or 17th, no impression in 3rd when mistake 4 out, blundered 3 out, left modest 2nd 2 out
towards rear, jumped left at times, behind 12th, mistake 18th, pulled up before 19th
prominent until 1st, chased leaders, dropped to mid-division before 5th, pushed along 13th, struggling 15th, behind when mistake 18th, pulled up before 19th
NonRunner
LE BREUIL runs over 4m for the first time since winning the National Hunt Chase at The Festival in 2019. Recent placed efforts at Aintree and Warwick suggest he’s on a fair mark at present and Ben Pauling’s charge can defy his big weight. Bob Mahler has been pulled up in all three outings this term so has a bit to prove but he’s now 3lb lower than when third in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir last spring and only 2lb higher than when taking this 12 months ago. Little Bruce was only fourth last year and looks held but The Ferry Master shapes as though this big step up in trip will suit and he is a progressive novice. Dino Boy beat Classic Escape 15 lengths at Kelso but seems best going left-handed.
Le Breuil (FR) 7-2jfav (10-6) Tracked leaders, jumped left 8th, outpaced 4 out, rallied after 2 out, stayed on flat, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Notachance (10-5) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Saint Xavier (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Chased leader, led 7th until 4 out, chased leader until before 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 11, 9 1/2l behind Double Shuffle (11-2) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Bob Mahler (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent 16th, mistake 17th and dropped to last, detached before 5 out, pulled up before 4 out, at Kelso 4m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Little Bruce (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Pressed leader, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 14, 25 1/2l behind Burbank (11-4) at Newcastle 2m (4) pol in Jan.
Mighty Thunder 11-2 (11-12) Towards rear, ridden after 10th, last and struggling before 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Mahlervous (11-2) at Kelso 2m 7f (3) sft in Dec.
Fortified Bay (IRE) 18-1 (11-7) Disputed lead, not fluent 6th, chased leader when not fluent 10th and 15th, mistake when 3rd 5 out, 4th and ridden 4 out, bad mistake 3 out, disputed 2nd 2 out, jumped left last, kept on for 2nd run-in, 2nd of 11, dist behind Perfect Candidate (11-11) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Stay Humble (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4th until next, challenged 4 out, every chance flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind On A Promise (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Classic Escape (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Mid-division, not fluent 15th, pushed along and chased leader 4 out, staying on 3 out, not fluent 2 out, left in clear 2nd at the last, 2nd of 11, 15l behind Dino Boy (10-0) at Kelso 4m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Dino Boy (FR) 11-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, headway to press leader before 4 out, not fluent 4 out, travelling easily when disputed lead 3 out and 2 out, pushed along approaching the last, every chance when left in front last, kept up to his work close home, won at Kelso 4m hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Classic Escape (10-8) by 15l, 11 ran.
The Delray Munky 5-2 (12-1) Tracked clear winner, slow 3rd and tracked leaders, pushed along and struggling from 3 out, left poor 2nd soon after 2 out, ridden and refused last, at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Billy Bronco 12-1 (11-9) Led, headed 5 out but back in front after next, ridden and headed after jumping 2 out, kept on but no match for winner, 2nd of 7, 7 1/2l behind Innisfree Lad (11-2) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
The Ferry Master (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden and ran on, won at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Baron De Midleton (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
