soon driven along towards rear, headway under pressure from 11th, stayed on to take moderate 3rd before last
behind, headway and just in touch from 10th, weakened after 12th
soon tracked leaders, led 8th, not fluent 11th, headed before next, weakened and blundered 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
in touch, effort to chase leading pair approaching 3 out, soon no impression and lost moderate 3rd before last
in mid-division when fell 2nd
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
led to 8th, stayed tracking leaders, led before 12th, driven and headed before last, no impression
in touch, driven and lost touch soon after 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 11th
chased leaders until weakened from 12th
tracked leader, driven after 7th, soon lost place, tailed off from 12th
behind, mistake 4th, driven along from 6th, well behind when blundered next, tailed off when refused 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 9th, challenged from 3 out, led before last, driven and stayed on well
This is quite a competitive handicap chase in which Five Alley, Ebony Jack and Roddy The Vet are shortlisted with the vote given to Ebony Jack. The selection was pulled-up when last seen out last month but he had previously put up a cracking effort when second behind Donbrody Millar at Fontwell and with ground conditions to suit he should go close. Roddy The Vet was returning from a long break when running with great credit at Market Rasen on Boxing Day, so with the benefit of that run he has to enter calculations. Five Alley was a fair second behind Graceful Dancer at Towcester last time and he is much better off at the weights with our selection who beat him last year. He could go well as could Just Anvil, but for the winner Ebony Jack gets our vote.
Five Alley (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) In rear, headway 10th, chased winner approaching last, no impression, 2nd of 14, 9l behind Graceful Dancer (10-11) at Towcester 3m chs 0-90 (F) gs in Dec.
River of Light (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Behind, ridden 7th, soon struggling, 5th of 10, 36l behind Zipalong Lad (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) sft.
Just Anvil (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, tailed off 11th pulled up at the 13th in race won by Graceful Dancer (10-11) at Towcester 3m chs 0-90 (F) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
Dr Mann (IRE) 15-2 (10-5) Led to 1st, remained close up, led 5th, headed after 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 12, 33l behind Passenger Omar (11-2) at Warwick 3m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Dec.
Murphy's Magic (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) In touch, ridden when fell at the 10th in race won by Graceful Dancer (10-11) at Towcester 3m chs 0-90 (F) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
Roddy The Vet (IRE) 11-2 (10-2) Held up, went prominent 7th, led after 4 out, headed 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind El Andaluz (10-3) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Dec.
Ebony Jack (IRE) 3-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, weakened 13th, blundered 4 out pulled up in race won by Presenting Express (10-13) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Dec, 9 ran.
Gathering Storm (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Held up pulled up 5 out in race won by Regal Vision (10-2) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Dec, 15 ran.
Anflora 13-2 (9-9) Held up, headway 10th, ridden 13th to chase leaders, weakened 2 out, 5th of 17, 21l behind Major Benefit (11-5) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy in Dec.
Red Alert Man (IRE) 20-1 (9-9) Chased leader, ridden and under pressure after 9th, behind and pulled up 4 out in race won by Regal Vision (10-2) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Dec, 15 ran.
Hill Forts Henry 50-1 (10-11) In touch, weakened 13th, behind when unseated rider 2 out in race won by Graceful Dancer (10-11) at Towcester 3m chs 0-90 (F) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
Tallow Bay (IRE) 9-1 (9-11) Ran in snatches, driven along in rear from 6th, well behind when mistakes 10th and 12th, stayed on approaching last but no chance, 5th of 9, 13l behind Merry Storm (10-3) at Folkestone 2m 5f amt hcp chs (5) sft.
