held up in rear, closer at 8th, outpaced and struggling in rear 10th, tailed off
raced wide in 3rd, went 2nd before 7th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, no chance with winner, kept on for 2nd
chased leader, led before 3rd, came clear before 2 out, stayed on strongly
well placed early, soon off the pace in last pair, went right 3rd, gained a place at 10th, dropped to rear again 10th, stayed on again before 2 out, went 3rd close home
raced on inside, led until 3rd, chased winner until before 7th, chased leaders, chased leaders in 3rd, pushed along after 9th, hit 4 out, outpaced turning in, lost modest 3rd close home
chased leaders in 4th, weakened 2 out
Tap Tap Boom beat small fields here and at Ludlow before unseating his rider in the early stages at Leicester. Dreaming Blue has shown ability in all three runs to date over the larger obstacles but LORD BADDESLEY (NAP) was keeping on when fourth behind the useful Balco Coastal at Kempton when making his chasing bow and he may have a bit more scope than Sheldon, who has won twice over fences but is proving hard to predict, and Gloire D'athon who beat last Friday’s Bangor winner Fable when last seen at Sandown at the start of December.
Tap Tap Boom 12-1 (12-0) In rear when hit 3rd and unseated rider, at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Gloire D'Athon (FR) 3-1 (11-6) Jumped well, made all, went clear before 7th, reduced lead 4 out, joined 2 out, in command last, stayed on gamely run-in, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Dec beating Fable (11-8) by nk, 4 ran.
Lord Baddesley (IRE) 18-1 (10-11) Held up last, headway tracking leaders before 4 out, ridden and stayed on from next, never going pace to challenge, 4th of 10, 12l behind Balco Coastal (11-3) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Sheldon (IRE) 5-2fav (12-1) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, hit 3rd, not fluent 9th, ridden before 2 out, kept on one pace after last, 4th of 5, 7 1/4l behind Dibble Decker (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Dreaming Blue 22-1 (11-8) Mid-division, driven along 3 out, keeping on when hampered at final fence, went third final strides, not reach leaders, 3rd of 13, 10 3/4l behind Skinflint (10-5) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Barnaviddaun (IRE) 66-1 (11-9) In touch, pushed along and lost place 4 out, behind next, pulled up last, at Leicester 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
