led, jumped well throughout, strongly challenged from 4 out, hard ridden 2 out, stayed on gamely under pressure, just held on
pulled hard in rear, mistake 10th, headway 13th, soon chasing leaders, every chance from 4 out, weakened before last
held up in rear, blundered 6th, not fluent next, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 6 out
tracked leaders, mistake 5 out, soon ridden and weakened
mid-division, blundered and unseated rider 5 out
chased leaders, lost place before 7th, headway 4 out, effort when slow last, stayed on under pressure closing stages, just failed
always prominent, slow 9th, every chance from 4 out, hard ridden next, no extra flat
raced keenly in mid-division, weakened 10th, soon under pressure, blundered 13th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out
Patsy Finnegan was a useful staying hurdler but clearly isn't as effective over fences and is likely to find at least one too good again here on these terms. Darby's Turn appears to be going backwards but Bai Zhu looks a decent prospect, though has been off the track since finishing fifth here in November. Doncaster second Frankie Anson looks to have his fair share of weight while Winterwood probably didn't beat much at Ffos Las last month, but there are definite possibilities about RIVER D'OR. Paul Nicholl's six-year-old never got competitive over a shorter trip here on his chase debut but jumped soundly and is sure to have more of an idea about what's required today. He is well handicapped on his form over hurdles.
Bai Zhu (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Led, pressed from 5 out, ridden approaching and headed 2 out, weakened run-in, 5th of 14, 8l behind Regal Approach (10-11) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (4) gs in Nov.
Patsy Finnegan 9-4fav (11-0) Chased leading pair, went 2nd 10th, blundered 12th, ridden next, held when not fluent 3 out, beaten when blundered next, 2nd of 8, 11l behind Fin Vin De Leu (10-12) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chase (4) gs.
Darby's Turn (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, lost place 8th, weakened approaching 5 out, 7th of 11, well behind Requin (11-11) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Persian Run (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Slight lead until after 3rd, chased winner until 10th, stayed in 3rd until weakened rapidly soon after, tailed off when pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Fin Vin De Leu (10-12) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chase (4) gs, 8 ran.
Frankie Anson (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, hit 1st, headway approaching 11th, chased winner from 3 out, kept on from last, no impression, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Mostly Bob (11-12) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gd in Jan.
Winterwood (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Prominent, went 2nd after 7th, mistake 11th, led 4 out, headed 2 out, led again last, driven out, won at Ffos Las 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb beating Arturo Uno (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
River D'or (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Mid-division, not fluent 9th, headway next, driven before 4 out, weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 27l behind Meet The Critics (10-11) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gs.
Buffalo Stampede (IRE) 11-1 (11-11) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Douryna (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs, 10 ran.
