in rear, mistake 1st, hit 6th, pushed along after 8th, pulled up after 11th
tracked leaders, ridden after 5 out, chased winner 4 out, led next until 2 out, every chance flat, held close towards finish
tracked leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 4th, headway 9th, outpaced 13th, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, well held by front pair
led into start, led until jumped slowly 1st, prominent, outpaced 16th, mistake 5 out, well held 3 out
led 1st until 12th, outpaced after 16th, well held 3 out
prominent, hit 3rd, jumped right and lost place 7th, behind from 11th(water), tailed off 16th, pulled up after
held up, mistake 8th, behind when not fluent 13th, tailed off 16th, pulled up after
held up towards rear, headway from 12th, went 2nd after 16th until 4 out, weakened next
mid-division, headway 4th, went 2nd after 10th, led 12th, not fluent 16th, hit 4 out, headed next, led again 2 out, pressed flat, held on well
prominent, steadied 2nd, headway 8th, ridden and lost place when not fluent 12th, pulled up before next
It's more than five years since Fair Along last won over fences but there's no question that Philip Hobbs' stayer is well handicapped on his C&D in the Hennessy over C&D in November. He has to go on the short-list along with lightly-weighted stablemate Marufo, who was third at Sandown last month. Niche Market was fifth in last year's Grand National and runner-up to West End Rocker, over the National fences again, at Aintree in November while Blazing Bailey and Dom D'Orgeval have a touch of class. Hello Bud is holding his form well considering his age but Mark The Book was pulled out of a similar race at Doncaster 10 days ago, where Wogan and Mumbles Head went on to finish fifth and seventh respectively, and needs softer ground. OUZBECK, on the other hand, thrives on a faster surface and this is his time of year. Well handicapped, he could be a bit of value if fighting fit following a break.
Blazing Bailey 15-2 (10-13) Held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 12th, behind 18th, 10th of 13, 25l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Jan.
Niche Market (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Mid-division on outside, mistake 1st, left 5th 13th (bechers brook), chased winner 3 out, no impression last, weakened flat, 2nd of 14, 22l behind West End Rocker (10-10) at Aintree 3m 2f lstd hcp chs (1) hvy in Dec.
Ouzbeck (FR) 18-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden before 4 out, outpaced before next, stayed on again from 2 out, went 4th towards finish, 4th of 13, 7l behind Ethiopia (9-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Oct.
Fair Along (GER) 6-1 (11-2) Led, pecked 4 out, driven and headed 2 out, no extra before last, 4th of 6, 12l behind Shakalakaboomboom (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec.
Hello Bud (IRE) 33-1 (10-3) Prominent, led approaching 3rd, hit 4 out, headed 2 out, no extra flat, 5th of 13, 7l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Jan.
Dom d'Orgeval (FR) 15-2 (10-11) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 6th of 17, 40l behind Knighton Combe (10-6) at Uttoxeter 3m 4f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Jun.
Mark The Book (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Made all, not fluent 8th, pecked 5 out, stayed on well to draw clear from 3 out, idled flat, won at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan beating Rockabilly (11-9) by 5l, 7 ran.
Mumbles Head (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up, under pressure 12th, soon beaten, 7th of 8, well behind Faasel (11-8) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Feb.
Marufo (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Mid-division, mistake 6th, headway and in touch 12th, chased leading pair after 19th, outpaced after 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Midnight Appeal (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
Wogan 6-1 (10-4) Led, pressed from 11th, headed before 4 out, rallied next, weakened 2 out, 5th of 8, 16l behind Faasel (11-8) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Feb.
