held up towards rear, knuckled on landing and fell 3rd (water)
held up towards rear, hampered 5th, steady headway from 8th, 4th and one pace from last
chasing leaders in 4th when blundered 5th, pulled up before next
tracked leading pair, 2nd going well 9th, led on bit 3 out, in no danger after, allowed to run down the last
chasing leaders when mistake and lost place 2nd, towards rear when brought down next
led, ridden and headed 3 out, soon lost 2nd, ridden and weakened before mistake next
took keen hold, held up in rear, steady headway when left in 4th place 5th, plugged on into 3rd after 3 out
mid-division, hampered 5th, blundered and unseated rider next
held up in last pair, tailed off when mistake 8th
raced keenly, tracked leader until 9th, 2nd again 3 out, tried to challenge next, soon well held
Forest Bihan probably ran better than expected on his reappearance in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham and should go well reverting to handicap company. The versatile Lady Buttons recorded a fifth win over hurdles in a Listed contest at Wetherby four weeks ago and won at that level over fences last year. BIGMARTRE was probably in need of the run at Cheltenham in October and better is expected on this flatter track. He won over course and distance on this card 12 months ago and was also successful in a Grade 2 at Ayr in April. Kerry Lee’s pair, Top Gamble and Shear Rock, could also play a part and Rock On Rocky was second in this last year when well ahead of Baby King.
Forest Bihan (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 3rd turning in, driven and one pace between last 2, no chance with front pair before last, 3rd of 6, 14 1/4l behind Sceau Royal (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Nov.
Top Gamble (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Mid-division, pushed along 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace after last, never reached leaders, 8th of 27, 28 3/4l behind Ultragold (11-1) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Apr.
Bigmartre (FR) 4-1 (11-11) Chased leader, not fluent 9th, every chance 3 out, no extra 2 out, 6th of 7, 34 1/4l behind Modus (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Lady Buttons 7-2 (10-12) Raced wide, tracked leader 2nd, led between last two, ridden and ran on, won at Wetherby 2m lst (1) gd in Nov beating Mystic Sky (10-12) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Baby King (IRE) 11-1 (11-11) Held up towards, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before last, 6th of 11, 29 1/2l behind Yorkist (11-5) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Dicosimo (FR) 33-1 (12-0) Raced wide in mid-division, weakened 9th, tailed off 12th, pulled up soon after, at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Doitforthevillage (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Held up behind, tracked leaders 4 out, driven to chase front pair when blundered badly and lost place 2 out, not recover, 6th of 7, 30 1/4l behind Bun Doran (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Space Oddity (FR) 10-11fav (12-0) Led, fell 5th, at Lingfield 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Rock On Rocky 33-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led narrowly when pecked 3rd, mistake 3 out, soon headed and ridden, well held from next, 4th of 7, 16 1/4l behind Bun Doran (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Shear Rock (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Raced freely, jumped left at times, led, not fluent 4th, hit 6th, headed 4 out, no impression after 2 out, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Report To Base (11-2) at Hereford 2m (4) sft in Jan.
