keen in midfield, headway on outside to press leader halfway, led 4f out, ridden over 3f out, drew clear over 2f out, drifted to far rail and ran on over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, faded close home
keen towards rear, ridden over 3f out, plugged on past beaten horses over 2f out but never dangerous
prominent, ridden to chase leader over 2f out, close up entering final furlong, kept on but no match for winner close home
midfield, switched right and ridden 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, rapid headway to lead entering final furlong, drifted to far rail but stayed on strongly close home
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on under pressure over 1f out but never dangerous
midfield, ridden and lost place over 3f out, faded from over 2f out
midfield, ridden over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out
keen in midfield, some headway 3f out, driven over 2f out, kept on steadily final furlong
held up in touch, ridden and lost place over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
led at steady pace, headed 4f out, ridden 3f out, gradually weakened from over 2f out
Surprisingly, for a winning pointer, MACKENBERG has rather been let down by his jumping in both starts since making a winning start over timber at Carlisle in October. He’ll probably be going chasing next season but a race like this can provide a nice confidence-booster. Fontana Ellissi has placed in a bumper and a hurdle and should be winning soon but Largy Mouth looked very one-paced in one of these here last month and Sean Quinlan switches to First Revolution, who has won between the flags but has disappointed over hurdles so far. The Hoax also has a bit to prove now.
First Revolution (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, modest headway when not fluent 4 out, chased leaders 3 out, ridden after 2 out, one pace from last, 5th of 11, 8 3/4l behind Laskadine (12-2) at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Foster'sisland 28-1 (10-12) Prominent, raced keenly, veered right 1st, jumped right next, losing place when mistake 3 out, weakened quickly, eased just before 2 out and pulled up right in front of hurdle, at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Grumpy Mcgrumpface (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Mid-division until reminders and reluctant paddock bend after 6th, soon behind, not run on, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Hitman Fred (IRE) 15-2 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, stayed on after 2 out but never dangerous, 4th of 13, 16l behind Artic Mann (11-3) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Largy Mouth 14-1 (11-4) Midfield, headway to chase leaders 3f out, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 11, 4 3/4l behind Presentandcounting (11-4) at Newcastle 2m (4) pol in Jan.
Mackenberg (GER) 4-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, ridden and went modest 3rd before next, 3rd of 6, dist behind Straw Fan Jack (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f (3) sft in Dec.
Plenty In The Tank (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, ridden before 3 out, hit 3 out, modest headway before 2 out, pulled up before last, at Leicester 2m (3) sft in Dec.
Sixties Star 25-1 (10-8) Behind, ridden 4 out, struggling and given reminders after 3 out, eased, 8th of 15, dist behind No Regrets (11-6) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
The Hoax 10-3 (11-7) Close up and keen, fell 3rd, at Southwell 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Ugo Du Misselot (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, 7th of 9, dist behind Champagnesuperover (11-5) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn (4) hvy in Jan.
Whats The Matter (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, pressed leader 4th, jumped big next, ridden for effort 2 out, weakened after last, 8th of 10, 19 1/4l behind Bollingerandkrug (10-12) at Kelso 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Princess Avery (IRE) 66-1 (10-10) Mid-division, slow 4th, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 9, 29 1/2l behind Little Mo (10-10) at Hexham 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Tooyou 150-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 32 3/4l behind Mig Des Taillons (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Fontana Ellissi (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, not fluent and soon ridden 4 out, staying on and took 2nd 2 out, disputing 2nd last but no extra run-in, 3rd of 12, 18 1/4l behind Atholl Street (11-4) at Taunton 2m (4) gs in Dec.
