prominent early, mid-division, tracked leaders 7th, in touch when badly hampered and brought down 11th
behind, hampered 11th, headway next, chased leaders 5 out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, hampered and lost place 11th, chased leaders again 5 out, ridden after next, weakened 2 out
mistake 2nd, soon pushed along in mid-division, reminders from 4th, hampered 11th, rallied to chase leaders 4 out, went 4th next, kept on same pace, never on terms
in touch, 2nd 5 out, led 3 out, joined 2 out, headed narrowly approaching last, not pace of winner flat
mid-division, headway 10th, tracked leaders when fell 12th
made most, blundered 11th, headed 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with front pair before last
mid-division, lost place 9th, weakened 5 out, tailed off
held up behind, headway 12th, disputed 2nd and close up when fell 5 out
tracked leaders, disputed lead before 8th, lost place when hampered 11th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
prominent until fell 11th
towards rear, headway 7th, tracked leaders 9th, upsides 2 out, led narrowly approaching last, driven clear flat, stayed on well
blundered 1st, always behind, struggling 8th, blundered and unseated rider 11th
soon behind, reminders after 5th, struggling 8th tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
The switch to fences at Taunton suited Sandy Beach and he should again beat Simply The West. But softer going and a 13lb higher mark are concerns. Aigle De La See did not jump well at Aintree and needs to do better and Imagine The Chat is also best watched at present but Road To Freedom was travelling like a winner when falling at Leicester and could go close with a clear round. Willoughby Hedge and Ashford Wood are both worth a market check but we'll take a chance on EPIC WARRIOR given he's already won a point-to-point and has been struggling to find an extra gear over hurdles - the blinkers should be a help.
Aigle De La See (FR) 11-4fav (11-3) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, ridden after 12th, jumped left and beaten 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, dist behind Bally Beaufort (11-12) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Mountain Tunes (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up, mistake 4th, outpaced 13th, weakened after next, pulled up before 4 out, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Ashford Wood (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Made all, ridden and rider lost iron before last, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Bowie (11-7) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Berkeley Barron (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Mistake 1st, last pair, reminder after 9th, losing touch when pulled up before 12th, at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Sandy Beach 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged 5 out, led before 2 out, soon clear, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec beating What Larks (10-3) by 9l, 10 ran.
Henri Parry Morgan 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, pushed along 5 out, not fluent 3 out, soon under pressure and weakened, last of 4, 35l behind Blameitalonmyroots (10-9) at Bangor 3m (3) hvy in Nov.
Epic Warrior (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, led narrowly after 3 out, headed next, soon ridden, no impression in 3rd from last, 3rd of 9, 6 3/4l behind Dan Emmett (11-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Tidal Dance (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) In touch on outside, lost place and behind from 4th, chased leaders 6 out, outpaced before next, behind when hampered and unseated rider 3 out, at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Willoughby Hedge 7-4jfav (11-5) Mid-division, headway before 8th, challenged 3 out, soon ridden, led last, stayed on well, won at Warwick 3m 1f (4) gs in Nov beating Patsys Castle (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Simply The West (IRE) 17-2 (11-8) Held up mid-division, headway after 4 out, ridden before last, one pace, 3rd of 10, 10 1/4l behind Sandy Beach (10-12) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Vice Et Vertu (FR) 4-1 (10-11) With leaders on outside, ridden to lead briefly before 5 out, close up when left 2nd and hampered 3 out, one pace in 3rd when blundered next, no chance after, 3rd of 8, 32l behind Kingswell Theatre (11-8) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Imagine The Chat 4-1fav (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway before 6th to chase leaders, weakened from 4 out, 8th of 11, 26 1/4l behind Javert (11-5) at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Road To Freedom 7-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway approaching 14th, led when fell 4 out, at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Millicent Silver 11-4jfav (11-3) Led until after 4 out, chased leader until after next, kept on same pace in 3rd, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 7, 21 1/2l behind Tambura (10-12) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
