chased leading pair, blundered 8th, mistake 15th, driven and weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader, led after 3rd, pressed by runner up after, idled in front from last, just held on, all out
not always fluent, led to after 3rd, pressed winner after, blundered 19th, upsides when blundered badly 2 out, rallied gamely before last, kept on run-in, just failed
chased leaders in 4th, mistake 4th, blundered and fell 14th
held up last, mistake 13th, chased leading pair 16th, ridden after 4 out, rider pulled up before 2 out, continued and walked over finish line
Nonrunner
Tanterari can make the most of his light weight to beat Inca Trail, Campaign Trail and Willie John Daly. With Toulouse-Lautrec taking up an alternative engagement at Exeter 24 hours earlier, it is doubtful whether Tom George's charge will even line up, and so the path looks clear for Tanterani to step up on his promising return at Aintree last month. This time last year Martin Pipe's seven-year-old managed to rattle up five wins from six starts before his form started to disappear, and as he was not given a hard time on his return, a bold effort is predicted on the way to a crack at the Welsh National in just over three weeks time. Inca Trail was given a peach of a ride by Charlotte Tizzard at Wincanton, the first time that she has ever ridden Paul Nicholls's gelding, and anybody that remembers his cheeky win here under Ruby Walsh last March will see him as a major player. Campaign Trail was given a spin over hurdles on his return at Market Rasen and has a fair weight, but a bigger threat may be Willie John Daly who showed signs of a return to form behind Getoutwhenyoucan at Cheltenham. However, Martin Pipe trained the winner, and will be able to gauge just what Tanterari has to do to beat today's rival. He looks a typical Pipe improver and gets our vote.
Whitford Don (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway 16th, weakened approaching 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Innox (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Nov, 16 ran.
Willie John Daly (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Held up, ridden, mistake 8th, driven along 10th, stayed on to take moderate 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 14l behind Getoutwhenyoucan (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-135 (E) gs in Nov.
Brave Spirit (FR) 11-4jt-fav (11-12) Chased leaders, outpaced and lost position approaching 15th, stayed on again from 3 out, went 4th approaching last, 4th of 11, 14l behind All In The Stars (11-4) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Nov.
Campaign Trail (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, one pace from next, 4th of 15, 5l behind Nathos (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl (B) gs in Nov.
Tanterari (IRE) 9-1jt-fav (10-9) Held up, headway 9th, ridden 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 23, 12l behind Hakim (10-12) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Nov.
Inca Trail (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway on bit 4 out, chased leader 3 out, shaken up and led after last, ran on well, won at Wincanton 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Nov beating Koquelicot (10-9) by 2l, 8 ran.
Toulouse-Lautrec (IRE) 10-11fav (11-0) Raced wide, tracked leaders, led 8th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on well, won at Exeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Nov beating Knight Of Silver (10-4) by 4l, 9 ran.
