chased leaders, lost place 9th, ridden and struggling towards rear when stumbled 12th, no chance after
always towards rear, struggling when hit 12th, no chance when fell last
held up in rear, steady headway from 11th, chased leading quartett before 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, chased leader and hit last, ridden and held when lost 2nd final 110 yards, lost 3rd last stride
took keen hold, chased leaders, mistake 8th, lost place next, soon behind, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, ridden and stayed on same pace from 4 out
behind when mistake 5th, pulled up before next
mid-division, ridden along 9th, no chance with leaders from 4 out
chased leader until 4 out, outpaced before 2 out, only 6th jumping last, stayed on well flat, went 3rd last stride and going on close home
always behind, hit 2nd, ridden along 7th, behind and no chance when blundered 4 out, tailed off
behind until fell 1st
chased leaders, led 3rd, ridden and headed 2 out, chased winner but held when mistake and lost 2nd last, weakened flat
mid-division, mistake 11th, soon behind, blundered 4 out, taile doff when pulled up before last
raced wide, held up towards rear, headway 10th, went 4th 2 out, strong run flat, went 2nd final 110 yards and closed on all out winner close home
chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, ridden 3 lengths clear last, hard riven and hung right flat, held on, all out
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 11th, tailed off
Nonrunner
There should be plenty of clues in the previous race to the chances of Swing Bill, who was impressive when making all at Wincanton last month. He's been put 11lb for that success, however, and is unlikely to have his own way out in front today with Pret A Thou among the opposition. David Pipe's grey was also well adrift when IKORODU ROAD fell at the last with a race at his mercy here in December. Martin Keighley's gelding clearly likes this track and, still at the right end of the handicap, can gain compensation today. Take The Breeze and Big Fella Thanks both look high enough in the weights at present, but Fine Parchment can't be ignored in his current form and had both Chance Du Roy and Panjo Bere behind when second at Warwick three weeks ago. Sandown winner Russian Flag looks to have little chance of reversing Ascot running in the autumn with Matuhi, however.
Niche Market (IRE) 40-1 (9-9) Chased leading pair, pushed along in 4th after 17th, stayed don same pace from 3 out, 5th of 18, 17l behind Diamond Harry (10-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Take The Breeze (FR) 7-1 (11-3) With leader, led 5th, hit and headed 5 out, soon outpaced, no impression from next, 4th of 7, 26l behind French Opera (11-5) at Newbury 2m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Big Fella Thanks 14-1 (11-7) Held up well in rear, blundered 10th, not fluent next, headway to rear of main group after 11th, stayed on from 3 out, went well held 3rd 2 out until towards finish, 4th of 7, 23l behind Riverside Theatre (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f chs G1 (1) sft in Feb.
Pret A Thou (FR) 17-2 (11-3) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led approaching 3 out, stayed on gamely, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb beating De Boitron (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Prince De Beauchene (FR) 3-1fav (11-3) Chased leaders, blundered 10th, ridden and one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Chance Du Roy (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) sft in Jan.
Chance Du Roy (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 8th until 12th, led next until 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Maktu 6-1 (10-11) Behind, headway before 4 out, soon under pressure, never on terms, 8th of 11, 33l behind Blazing Bailey (11-10) at Ffos Las 3m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Swing Bill (FR) 7-2fav (11-7) With leader and clear, led 4th, made rest, clear from 6th, pushed out flat, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb beating Regal Heights (11-6) by 8l, 9 ran.
Saphir Des Bois (FR) 3-1fav (11-11) Tracked leader throughout, trying to challenge on inside when not fluent last, stayed on, always just held, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Grand Lahou (11-2) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Ikorodu Road 7-1 (11-12) Made most, unseated rider last, in a race won by Misstree Dancer (11-3) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Matuhi 12-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, behind when hampered next, tailed off, 10th of 16, well behind Poquelin (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Russian Flag (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Raced in 4th and off the pace, hit 9th, closed to 3rd before 3 out, chased leader 3 out, led before last, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb beating Dinarius (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Tail of The Bank (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, mistake 1st, outpaced and behind from 7th, left 3rd after 2 out, stayed on to press for 2nd close home, no chance with winner, 3rd of 4, 11l behind Finian's Rainbow (11-4) at Warwick 2m nov chs G2 (1) gs in Feb.
Fine Parchment (IRE) 9-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, mistake 12th, chased winner approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Plein Pouvoir (FR) 2-1fav (10-13) Held up in 5th, chased leading trio 3rd, went 3rd soon after 4 out, soon no chance with leading duo, weakened to 4th last, 4th of 6, 26l behind Carrickmines (10-10) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Mahogany Blaze (FR) 14-1 (11-8) In rear when blundered and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Tatenen (10-13) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gs in Jan, 11 ran.
Panjo Bere (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, challenged 4th, led 12th, headed next, ridden 4 out, 4th and beaten approaching 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 9, 22l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
