led until approaching 15th, chased leader until 20th, remained handy, 2nd again approaching 3 out, led again last, kept on gamely
always behind, pushed along and struggling after 4 out, tailed off, pulled up before last
mid-division, mistake 4th, headway tracking leaders 12th, not fluent 14th, weakening when blundered badly 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders, went 2nd 8th, led approaching 15th, headed before 3 out, lost 2nd approaching 3 out, weakened soon after
tracked winner until 8th, mistake and lost place next, reminders 11th, tailed off 18th, pulled up before next
mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, outpaced before next, plugged on
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along after 4 out, weakened approaching next
towards rear, steady headway after 4 out, chased leaders travelling well enough before 3 out, pushed along disputing close 3rd 2 out, ridden between last 2, no extra in 4th run-in
held up and behind, steady headway tracking leaders approaching 19th, went 2nd run-in, stayed on towards finish, just held
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 5th, behind 10th, tailed off 19th, soon pulled up
chased leaders, blundered 17th, went 2nd 20th, led before 3 out, edged left under pressure and headed last, lost 2nd run-in, 3rd and held final 100 yards
in touch in mid-division, headway chasing leaders when mistake 19th, driven in 5th between last 2, hung left and kept on same pace run-in
soon pushed long towards rear, tailed off 10th, pulled up after 13th
Loose Chips won over 3m here last month when just getting the better of Court By Surprise with Rocky Creek back in fourth but the runner-up is slightly better off today. Doing Fine had a pipe-opener over hurdles at Sedgefield in October and though finishing second, he hasn’t won since 2014 now. Belmount landed a double before beaten off today’s mark at Carlisle and Sedgefield winner Jimmy The Jetplane found one too good dropped back to 2m5f at Towcester. Mountainous could only manage sixth in this last year before going on to land the Welsh Grand National so the vote goes to FIVE IN A ROW, a runner-up over 3m5f in the Durham National at Sedgefield last time and racing off the same mark today.
Rocky Creek (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-10) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 14th, pushed along before 16th, one pace in 4th when slightly hampered 3 out, plugged on pressing for modest 3rd, no chance with leading duo, 4th of 5, 6l behind Loose Chips (11-1) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Mountainous (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Mid-division, struggling before 14th, soon lost touch and pulled up, at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
Jimmy The Jetplane (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Tracked winner, jumped right 1st, ridden and every chance over 2f out, kept on and held by winner final furlong, 2nd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Milgen Bay (10-2) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Loose Chips 11-4jfav (11-1) Led, hit 7th, slight peck 16th (water), ridden before last, narrowly headed run-in, rallied gamely to regain lead close home, won at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov beating Court By Surprise (10-7) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Five In A Row (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, in 3rd, left in lead 16th, ridden and headed before last, kept on, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Buachaill Alainn (10-11) at Sedgefield 3m 5f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Belmount (IRE) 4-1fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, driven when not fluent 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression before next, 6th of 12, 15 1/4l behind Carrigdhoun (11-3) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Court By Surprise (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, hit 6th, 2nd 3 out, challenged last, ridden to lead narrowly run-in, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Loose Chips (11-1) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Bob Tucker (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Never fluent in rear, tailed off when mistake 2 out, left poor 4th at the last, 4th of 7, 37 3/4l behind Gentleman Jon (10-6) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Doing Fine (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Held up, towards rear, headway before 2 out, led before last, headed run-in, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Wyfield Rose (10-11) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Woodford County 20-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, reminder after 9th, outpaced before 3 out, beaten when blundered badly next, tailed off, 9th of 15, dist behind Aerial (11-2) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Morney Wing (IRE) 15-2 (10-11) Towards rear, headway into mid-division 9th, pushed along 16th, headway 4 out, chased leader briefly before next, ridden after next, kept on same pace, no impression when lost 3rd after last, 4th of 15, 17 1/4l behind Aerial (11-2) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Conas Taoi (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Tracking leaders when mistake 1st, mid-division, hit 15th, headway 3 out, no impression, weakened 2 out, 8th of 17, 33 1/4l behind Troika Steppes (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Leg Iron (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Led or disputed lead, driven approaching last, edged right flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Rocky Bender (11-8) at Huntingdon 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
