held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 10th, 4th before next until mistake 3 out, weakened soon after, poor 5th when mistake and unseated rider 2 out
fell 1st
towards rear, struggling in rear 9th, tailed off 12th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, chased clear leading pair 5th, closed into 2nd 2 out, led last, soon pressed, driven and stayed on to assert run-in
chased clear leading pair until 5th, weakened 9th, tailed off when blundered 14th, pulled up before next
slight lead after 2nd until 13th, chased leader until 2 out, chased leading pair, driven and one pace and dropped to 4th before last, went modest 3rd again final 100 yards
in rear, reminders and struggling after 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 9th
led until after 2nd, pressed leader, led again 13th, strongly pressed when mistake and headed last, lost 2nd after last, no impression on leading duo, weakened into 4th final 100 yards
well off the pace towards rear, modest 6th when went left 14th, never remotely involved, left in poor 5th 2 out
tended to jump right, chased leaders, outpaced before 9th, pushed along before 14th, rallied under pressure into 4th 3 out, stayed on into 2nd after the last and every chance until no extra run-in
Nonrunner
Smiles For Miles couldn't complete the hat-trick at Chepstow last month but wasn't disgraced and has place claims again here. Tony Star has the past form to figure while Aachen is back on a winning mark and shouldn't be ignored. Premier Portrait skated up at Towcester last time and the booking of McCoy has to be a positive. But he's 9lb higher here and appears to have two ways of running. RUSSE BLANC is on a career-high mark after beating Roll The Dice at Exeter but looks progressive and still receives weight all round. Richard Lee's grey deserves a crack at this higher level and is preferred to Sandown third Bob Tucker, though On Trend should be approaching peak fitness now and has a chance.
Ohio Gold (IRE) 5-1fav (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out until approaching last, 3rd and no impression when hit last, no extra and lost 3rd flat, 4th of 10, 18l behind Bertie Boru (10-12) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Oct.
Touch Back (IRE) 28-1 (11-3) Hampered and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Minellahalfcentury (10-9) at Chepstow 3m nov hcap ch (3) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Buachaill Alainn (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Chased leader until after 2nd, chased leaders, reminders 6th, lost touch 8th, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Bygones Sovereign (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Smiles For Miles (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Led, hit 3 out, headed next, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Cogry (10-13) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs (3) hvy in Dec.
On Trend (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Chased leader, led 17th until next, chased leader until pushed along before 3 out, soon one pace chasing leaders, plugged on modest 5th towards finish, 5th of 11, 15l behind Unioniste (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) sft.
Aachen 11-1 (10-8) Towards rear, pushed along before 11th, headway before 4 out, weakened quickly 3 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Diocles (10-8) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Premier Portrait (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, lost place when mistake and behind 11th, soon outpaced, rallied and came towards stands side approaching 2 out, led before last, ridden clear flat, won at Towcester 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec beating Broadway Symphony (10-8) by 15l, 4 ran.
Bob Tucker (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) With leaders, slight lead 3rd until 9th, chased leaders, every chance last, driven and stayed on same pace in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Generous Ransom (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Qulinton (FR) 50-1 (11-6) Not fluent, towards rear, last and outpaced 11th, no chance after, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Knockanrawley (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Russe Blanc (FR) 6-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, outpaced when went 3rd at 12th, 7 lengths down when not fluent 4 out, soon ridden, rallied before last, stayed on to challenge flat, led narrowly near finish, won at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov beating Roll The Dice (10-10) by nk, 7 ran.
Tony Star (FR) 20-1 (11-8) Took keen hold, tracked leading trio, jumped slowly 5th, pushed along and lost place before 3 out, soon beaten, 7th of 8, 24l behind Polamco (10-13) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec.
