held up, took keen hold, headway on outside approaching 6th, ridden after next, soon beaten, tailed off
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 7th, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before last
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd when not fluent last, stayed on same pace final 100 yards
tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, well beaten after next
held up in touch, close enough 2 out, weakened approaching last, tailed off
tracked leader, led 4th until after 7th, led again 2 out, stayed on well
mid-division, headway on inside 4th, mistake 6th, every chance when mistake 2 out, weakened flat
took keen hold, led until 4th, led after 7th, headed 2 out, no extra final 100 yards
mid-division, jumped slowly and reminder 6th, fell next
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway when not fluent 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakening when jumped right 2 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place 6th, weakened after next, tailed off
held up in rear, hampered and unseated rider 7th
held up, headway 3 out, challenged last, stayed on, held towards finish
held up in touch, lost place 2 out, weakened approaching last
This may not be as competitive as the numbers suggest as the likes of Accordintolawrence and General Kutuzov look to be having a confidence-booster before going back over fences and Ballyquin Queen hasn't been getting home. Choc Thornton rides Gospel Preacher but there doesn't appear to be much to choose between that one and stablemate Ruling Party on the form book while Be My Light is usually worth opposing. Conor Quish's claim brings Kusadiki into the equation while Handy Andy won a novice event over C&D at this meeting 12 months ago, though hasn't shown much since. TICKATACK left previous form behind when winning at Southwell in January. The runner-up hasn't let the form down since and, though this is a better race, Graeme McPherson's former pointer could well follow up.
Accordintolawrence (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Led, hit 3rd, headed, pecked and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Lucky Landing (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb, 10 ran.
Abbevillian (IRE) 25-1 (10-1) In rear, blundered 5th, plugged on past beaten horses from 2 out, mistake last, 8th of 15, 19l behind Ciceron (10-12) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Jan.
Teshali (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, headway 6th, blundered next, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Sandynow (10-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan, 9 ran.
Quousko de L'Isop (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Led, just headed when fell 2 out, in a race won by Lemon Drop Red (10-7) at Southwell 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb, 13 ran.
Be My Light (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Held up in 4th, lost place 8th, soon outpaced, ridden to go 3rd after 4 out, kept on same pace, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 7, 17l behind O Crotaigh (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Kusadiki (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Behind, headway approaching 6th, chased leaders after 4 out, stayed on same pace in 4th from 3 out, 4th of 14, 24l behind African Broadway (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Handy Andy (IRE) 9-2 (10-7) Tracked leaders, lost place before 4 out, soon behind, 6th of 9, 32l behind Dream Esteem (11-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Gospel Preacher 10-3 (11-0) Held up in touch, went 3rd 3 out, close up behind front pair when mistake 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 13, 14l behind Sainglend (10-9) at Hereford 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.
General Kutuzov (IRE) 22-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, carried right 5th, jumped slowly and ridden next, weakened 12th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Hunt Ball (10-6) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan, 14 ran.
Ruling Party 4-1 (11-5) Took keen hold in touch, hit 6th, pushed along after 8th, stayed on to 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Aikideau (11-11) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Galiotto (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up in 5th, ridden after 5th, struggling 3 out, well beaten when mistake 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 9, 41l behind Tayarat (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Ballyquin Queen (IRE) 3-1fav (10-7) Held up towards rear, pushed along and weakened after 4 out, 8th of 9, well behind Radetsky March (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec.
Marble Walk (IRE) 22-1 (11-6) Held up and always towards rear, struggling before 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 10, 43l behind Open Hearted (11-13) at Folkestone 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Tickatack (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway to challenge after 3 out, led before next when jumped right, clear between last 2, stayed on well, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Jan beating Cesium (11-3) by 4l, 15 ran.
Prankster 33-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 4th of 11, 13l behind Laflammedeglorie (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
