mid-division, closer approaching 6th, pushed along before next, ridden and weakened before 8th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
held up in last pair, reminders and strugging after 6th, tailed off
always towards rear, behind and struggling after 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
mid-division on outside, weakened before 8th, tailed off
held up and behind, some headway on wide outside when hit 9th, weakened soon after 3 out, pulled up before the last
raced wide, held up in last trio, headway approaching 7th, chased leaders next, weakened 3 out, well behind when pulled up before next
mid-division, ridden and weakened before 3 out, well behind when pulled up before 2 out
close 5th on inside, ridden before 2 out, weakened soon after
held up in last trio, not fluent 3rd, headway chasing leaders after 3 out, 3rd before hit next, one pace and no chance with winner, almost snatched 2nd post
tracked leading pair, went 2nd soon after 3 out, led 2 out, clear before the last, stayed on strongly, all out
held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, mistake and weakened 3 out
chased leader until 7th, chased leaders, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, plugged on and went modest 4th run-in
chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, led soon after 3 out, headed 2 out, chased winner, ridden between last 2, kept on same pace before the last, no chance with winner
raced keenly, led until soon after 3 out, soon lost 2nd, chased leaders, ridden and weakening in 4th when mistake 2 out, lost modest 4th run-in
NonRunner
Conditions could make this hard work for those at the head of the handicap, including the Paul Nicholls’ pair Mr Mix, who is closely matched with Ruacana, and Connetable. Kk Lexion might struggle to confirm Wincanton form with Fortunate George on much worse terms and Lanzarote third Lord Of The Island will have his stamina to prove. But the lightly-raced Behind Time possibly found his Newbury run in November coming too soon after his Cheltenham win and he’s had a break since. ROLLING DYLAN had Desert Sensation and Billy No Name behind when just touched off at Chepstow. That was his first try over 3m but he handled the step up in distance well enough and he’ll be more at home than most in today’s ground. El Terremoto tries a longer trip but had won at Stratford and Haydock before his latest third at the latter track when thick fog made it difficult to gauge his effort.
Mr Mix (FR) 2-1fav (11-11) In touch, headway to challenge 2 out, led last, edged left kept on, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Ruacana (11-7) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Connetable (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, reminders before 12th, never involved, 8th of 13, 27 3/4l behind Belami Des Pictons (11-1) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Ruacana 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 7th, ridden to challenge after 2 out, every chance last, kept on, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Mr Mix (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Billy No Name (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway before 7th, not fluent 4 out, ridden 3 out, beaten next, no extra last, 5th of 17, 19l behind Shantou Bob (11-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Kk Lexion (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Held up behind, steady headway on outside 3 out, went 2nd before next, led between last 2, sayed on well, drew clear from last, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Fortunate George (11-11) by 10l, 13 ran.
Valhalla (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Chased leaders on outside, not fluent 2nd, weakened 4 out, 7th of 13, 25 3/4l behind Belami Des Pictons (11-1) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Rolling Dylan (IRE) 9-4fav (10-12) Held up, in mid-division, headway 8th, led 2 out, stayed on, headed flat, held close home, 2nd of 17, nk behind Shantou Bob (11-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
El Terremoto (FR) 6-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear when in view after 1st, still there but in touch when in view after 4 out, 3rd at finish, 3rd of 9, shd behind Clyne (11-12) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Fountains Windfall 12-1 (10-3) Held up in mid-division on outside, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, no impression when hung right and hit 2 out, ridden and weakened soon after, 7th of 13, 12 3/4l behind Modus (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.
Lord Of The Island (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, joined for modest 3rd at the last, outright 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 13, 7 3/4l behind Modus (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.
Behind Time (IRE) 10-11fav (10-2) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 4th, hung left and headway from 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Solomn Grundy (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Ballyculla (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Towards rear, headway into mid-division 13th, struggling 19th, soon behind, pulled up before last, at Catterick 3m 6f hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Fortunate George (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Led, ridden and headed between last 2, no impression in clear 2nd from last, 2nd of 13, 10l behind Kk Lexion (11-10) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Desert Sensation (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Led until after 1st, prominent, every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace next, 3rd of 17, 5 1/4l behind Shantou Bob (11-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Little Boy Boru (IRE) 17-2 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway on outside 8th, ridden after 4 out, 5 lengths 4th 3 out, closed from 2 out, 2nd last, 3/4 length down flat, held by winner, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Splash of Ginge (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
