led, headed when hit 4 out, soon lost place, weakened from next
tracked leaders, lost place 4th, soon behind, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
tracked leaders on inside, hit 4 out, challenged next, soon upsides, ridden and every chance flat, just held near finish
mid-division, headway on outside after 4 out, outpaced next, soon weakened
mid-division, headway and in touch 4 out, effort stands side next, soon ridden, every chance 2 out, soon outpaced, no impression when left well held 3rd last, no extra, lost 3rd towards finish
soon pushed along in mid-division, mistake 6th, ridden and kept on under pressure from 3 out, never on terms
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before next
held up towards rear, steady headway 4 out, challenged and every chance when blundered next, soon ridden and one pace, well held 3rd when fell last
always behind, tailed off 3 out
mid-division on inside, headway when hampered after 4 out, led next, soon hard pressed, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, just held on
pressed leader, led 4 out to before next, soon ridden, weakened next
in touch on outside, led after 4 out to next, soon ridden and weakened
in rear, some headeway 3 out, never near leaders
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 3 out, kept on under pressure to go 3rd towards finish, no chance with leading pair
in touch, outpaced after 4 out, weakened next
always behind, lost touch 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Bobbie Magern makes his handicap debut here for Nigel Twiston-Davies as does the Philip Hobbs-trained Foynes Island and both have to be respected off what seem to be fair marks but it is another newcomer to handicapping that gets the vote in VAGRANT EMPEROR. Emma Lavelle's gelding has not been seen since March 2009 when well beaten at Exeter but he showed great promise in two previous runs over hurdles and may be worth chancing on his belated reappearance. David Pipe's Frosted Grape is well treated on chase form but is better over the larger obstacles, while Nicky Henderson's Ballycracken gave no encouragement when pulled up on his return. Rajamand can race off the same mark as when a late faller when still with every chance at Cheltenham recently and is another to consider along with Jonjo O'Neill's Market Rasen second Full Of Joy, who can also race off the same mark today.
Frosted Grape (IRE) 11-8fav (11-3) Tracked leader, hampered 1st, pushed along after 4 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 8, 12l behind Kaituna (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) gd.
Harvest Song (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) In touch, close up 7th, jumped right and not fluent 3 out, weakened approaching next, 4th of 11, 24l behind Mossley (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Vagrant Emperor (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway when hit 6th, went 2nd 8th, ridden and weakened before next, 6th of 10, well behind Giles Cross (11-9) at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar '09.
Divy (FR) 20-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, hampered and fell 5th, in a race won by Like A Hurricane (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct, 16 ran.
Simply Wings (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway when mistake 7th, 3 lengths 3rd when blundered 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 13, 18l behind Highland Valley (10-12) at Exeter 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Bobbie Magern 11-4fav (10-11) Held up mid-division, ridden after 5 out, went 4th approaching 4 out, held when left poor 3rd last, 3rd of 12, 25l behind Alverstone (10-2) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Ballycracken (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Chased leaders, reminders approaching 4th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up after 2 out, in a race won by Cantabilly (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct, 15 ran.
Rajamand (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Held up, headway from 2 out, staying on and going well when not much room unsighted and fell last, in a race won by Devil To Pay (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gs, 19 ran.
Foynes Island (IRE) 13-8fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway on inside after 5th, went 2nd approaching 7th, every chance 3 out, weakened before enxt, 3rd of 11, 34l behind Stolen Thunder (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Oct.
Full Of Joy (IRE) 3-1fav (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway from 7th, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, headed after last, no extra, 2nd of 11, 5l behind No Principles (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.
Nobby Kivambo (IRE) 17-2 (11-9) Close up, with leader 2nd, led approaching 3 out, joined next, headed approaching last, every chance run-in, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 17, 1 1/4l behind Wheyaye (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 6f cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
What An Oscar (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) In touch, lost place 6th, 6th of 15, 18l behind Owen Glendower (11-4) at Stratford 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gs in Oct.
Cardinal James (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Chased leading pair, went 2nd 4th until hit 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Amuse Me (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Mic Aubin (FR) 13-2 (10-12) Took keen hold, chased leader, led 3rd until 3 out, driven in 3rd soon after, rallied to well held 2nd last, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 8, 18l behind Mtpockets (10-5) at Fontwell 3m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Beau Lake (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, driven and headway after 7th, chased leaders after 3 out, driven and no extra from next, 5th of 10, 29l behind On Trend (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) sft.
Commit To Memory 40-1 (11-10) Towards rear, behind 5th, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer, 6th of 12, 11l behind Skye But N Ben (11-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in May.
