led to 2nd, lost place next, behind from 5th, reminders 7th, soon lost touch, pulled up before 10th
mid-division, lost place and behind from 8th, hampered 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway into mid-division 5th, lost place 10th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up behind, headway into mid-division on inside when fell 10th
led 2nd, ridden after 3 out (usual 4 out), headed 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure, lost place near finish
soon behind, struggling when hit 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
mid-division, driven 10th, chased leaders 14th, outpaced when hit 3 out (usual 4 out), soon ridden, kept on under pressure from last, went 3rd near finish
with leader, hit 9th, lost place 13th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out (usual 4 out)
mid-division, headway and in touch 12th, went 2nd next, driven 14th, led 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well under pressure flat
towards rear of mid-division, headway 11th, driven to chase leaders 14th, outpaced 3 out (usual 4 out), 5th and plenty to do 2 out, rallied after last, finished well to take 2nd near finish, never reached winner
chased leaders to 11th, weakened and pulled up after 13th
always prominent, driven 3 out (usual 4 out), one pace in 3rd 2 out, ridden and hung right before last, kept on under pressure flat, lost place towards finish
Nonrunner
Reblis won this last year off a 2lb higher mark when Adrenalin Flight, Ballybough Gorta and Leg Iron all failed to finish, though the last-named was staying on when coming down four out and has a recent course victory over 3m2f here to his name. He was ahead of Ballyvoneen that day in a race in which Itoldyou fell. Ardenalin Flight came right back to form over 4m at Exeter last time when Reblis was fourth and Flying Award fifth. Gorgehous Lliege started favourite in that event but was pulled up after being badly hampered at an early stage. He's capable of better, while stablemate Tarraco won here in March and made an impressive reappearance when successful at Ffos Las. Don't Do Mondays has his stamina to prove but Amroth Bay looks a contender after back-to-back wins at Fontwell and Huntingdon, though it's VIKING BLOND that justgets the nod. He's been dropped another 2lb since Sean Bowen rode him into third place at Warwick and is thrown in on past form which includes a close-up third in a Grade 3 at Cheltenham a couple of years ago.
Ballybough Gorta (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 17th, in a race won by Oscar Time (10-12) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Dec, 25 ran.
Flying Award (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 8th, not fluent next, weakened before 4 out, 5th of 11, well behind Adrenalin Flight (11-1) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Tarraco (FR) 5-2fav (11-10) Led to 2nd, tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 7th, left 2nd at 8th, led before 11th, clear before last, eased run-in, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov beating Victory Gunner (11-0) by 9l, 5 ran.
Dont Do Mondays (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Made most, hard pressed 4 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner flat, 2nd of 7, 9l behind The Musical Guy (11-8) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
Gorgehous Lliege (FR) 9-2fav (11-6) Pressed leader, hampered before 7th, lost place next, weakened well before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Adrenalin Flight (11-1) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Leg Iron (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Led, headed just after 3 out, soon rallied and led again approaching next, ran on strongly, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec beating Ballyvoneen (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Reblis (FR) 18-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, mistake 6th, soon ridden, went modest 4th 4 out, no chance with front pair, weakened 2 out, 4th of 11, 43l behind Adrenalin Flight (11-1) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Coolking 10-3 (10-11) In rear and not fluent, mistake 10th, hit 11th, mistake and struggling next, pecked 17th, went poor 4th before blundered 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, well behind Firm Order (11-2) at Sandown 3m amat hcap chs (3) sft in Dec.
Itoldyou (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Settled in rear but in touch when fell 4th, in a race won by Leg Iron (11-11) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec, 5 ran.
Viking Blond (FR) 7-1 (10-11) Led until 2nd, soon led again, headed after 5th, outpaced 18th, struggling from 4 out, went 3rd flat, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Incentivise (11-4) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Amroth Bay 3-1 (10-5) Pressed leader, not fluent 6th, led 17th, headed 20th, not fluent 3 out, led before 2 out when again not fluent, driven out flat, won at Huntingdon 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov beating Soudain (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Ballyvoneen (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, hard ridden to challenge approaching last, soon chasing winner, stayed on well, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Leg Iron (11-11) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec.
Adrenalin Flight (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Held up, not fluent 3rd, headway 7th, led after 9th, hard pressed from before 4 out, stayed on gamely, won at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec beating Milosam (10-3) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Blackwell Synergy (FR) 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, led 4th, mistake 6th, not fluent and headed next, not fluent and lost place 12th, mistake 14th, blundered and weakened next, mistake 4 out, pulled up after, in a race won by Gallery Exhibition (11-12) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Dec, 6 ran.
