chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 6 out
chased leader, led before 14th, headed next, weakened 6 out, pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, headway 11th, fell 15th
chased leaders in 5th, led 17th, riden before last, kept on well towards finish
in rear, pushed along after 14th, soon weakened, pulled up 5 out
in touch, went 6th before 4 out, one pace and no impression
held up towards rear, weakened before 16th, pulled up 18th
led, headed before 14th led 15th, headed 17th, weakened before next, pulled up 5 out
chased leaders, mistake 6th, went 2nd 5 out, no extra from last
held up towards rear, pushed along 11th, chased leaders 18th, outpaced 5 out, chased winner after last, kept on
held up mid-division, headway before 16th, ridden before 3 out, kept on from last
rear division, headway before 6 out, weakened from 5 out
always towards rear, pulled up before 4 out
held up mid-division, mistake 7th, weakened from 16th
held up mid-division, took closer order 18th, no extra from 2 out
held up mid-division, lost place after 4th, tailed off and pulled up after 14th
The bottom three race from out of the weights with Our Island preferred on last month's fourth at Cheltenham. Ballypatrick finished ahead of the latter last time and makes more appeal than Royale Knight, upped 10lb for winning over 4m at Kelso in December. Relax contributed to his stable's fine form with a win at Sandown three weeks ago and has leading claims, while Sun Cloud also arrives in great heart but has a 12lb hike to contend with after scoring easily at Catterick last time. Financial Climate is another needing to improve off his current mark, but there should be more to come from novice chase winner Swatow Typhoon. Junior last won in 2012 though he's slipped 10lb down the weights since. He finished six lengths behind third-placed SMOKING ACES at Ffos Las recently and with a conditional's 5lb claim helping his cause, Jonjo O'Neill's charge gets the vote to come good in this.
Junior 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 10th, led 5 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, plugged on same pace, 4th of 12, 15l behind Emperor's Choice (10-5) at Ffos Las 3m 4f hcp chs (2) hvy.
Relax (FR) 9-1 (11-1) Led until 8th, mistake next, stayed prominent, challenging when slipped just after 3 out, led last, stayed on, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) hvy beating Ardkilly Witness (11-2) by 3l, 10 ran.
Sun Cloud (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway before 15th to chase leaders, led before 3 out, left clear 2 out, stayed on well, won at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan beating Merlin's Wish (11-2) by 11l, 9 ran.
Wyck Hill (IRE) 22-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, lost place from 4th, blundered badly 13th, soon behind, pulled up before 16th, in a race won by Mountainous (10-0) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec, 20 ran.
Chavoy (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, 7th of 13, 43l behind Top Wood (11-7) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) hvy.
Seven Woods (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Led until after 1st, chased leader until mistake 3rd, ridden and lost place 8th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 9, 46l behind Josies Orders (10-8) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
Financial Climate (IRE) 9-2fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, steady headway into mid-division 14th, chased leading duo before 3 out, dropped to 4th and mistake 2 out, rallied to 3rd again towards finish, 3rd of 11, 21l behind Restless Harry (11-5) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Swatow Typhoon (IRE) 4-7fav (11-13) Led, mistake 4th, joined at 8th, pushed along before 11th and reminders, jumped slow 12th, headed 15th, weakened from next, 4th of 5, 38l behind Alpha Victor (11-3) at Sedgefield 3m 3f nov chs (4) hvy in Jan.
Safran De Cotte (FR) 12-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, outpaced and no impression from 4 out, 6th of 15, 20l behind Shotgun Paddy (11-7) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan.
Smoking Aces (IRE) 6-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway 11th, chased leaders before 3 out, outpaced before 2 out, went 3rd before last, kept on run-in, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Emperor's Choice (10-5) at Ffos Las 3m 4f hcp chs (2) hvy.
Ballypatrick (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, challenged 5th, ridden after 12th, 3rd and stayed on same pace before last, no impression on winner, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Mendip Express (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Jan.
Royale Knight 9-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway approaching 16th, went 3rd before 4 out, stayed on one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 15, 12l behind Shotgun Paddy (11-7) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan.
Tarquinius (FR) 25-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden 4 out, no extra before straight, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by On His Own (11-6) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp chs in Jan, 18 ran.
Our Island (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Led until 3rd, prominent, ridden after 8th, pressing for 3rd before last, no impression on winner, one pace in 4th flat, 4th of 13, 9l behind Mendip Express (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Jan.
Presented (IRE) 10-3 (10-5) Jumped right, chased leaders, mistake 7th, pushed along after 11th, rallying when mistake 113th, went 3rd next, left disputing lead last, soon led, driven out, won at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan beating Galway Jack (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
War On (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Led, headed after 9th, one pace and no impression from 3 out, 3rd of 6, 13l behind Knockgraffon King (10-13) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
