bit keen, held up in last pair on inside, bit closer in 5th before 12th, weakened before 14th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
raced keenly, towards rear out wide, never on terms, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 11th (water), pushed along and led approaching 3 out, clear before next, driven out
in touch in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 10th, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and one pace before next, no chance with winner, just held on for 2nd
chased leaders out wide, mistake 9th, soon lost place, towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
led, mistake and headed briefly 6th, awkward 11th (water), pushed along and headed approaching 3 out, weakening when blundered badly next, pulled up soon after
chased leaders, pushed along and lost place before 10th, towards rear and never on terms after, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, good headway chasing leaders before 10th, blundered badly and rider lost iron briefly next, no chance after
chased leader, led briefly 6th, chased leader until before 11th (water), chased leaders in 3rd, rallied and closed on 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
waited with in rear, mistake 3rd, good headway chasing leaders 13th, no impression when left modest 4th soon after 2 out
Doitforthevillage wound back the clock over course and distance last month and is only 2lb higher. Benatar was beaten 27 lengths on his reappearance at Cheltenham but that was still a promising comeback and this is easier. Up Helly Aa King is a real mud-lover who will appreciate the drop back in trip and Foxboro is interesting thrown into a handicap after just the one run over fences. ALNADAM (NAP) was never travelling at Kempton six weeks ago but had won impressively over course and distance before that and heavy going has proved no problem in the past. He’s preferred to Evander, who couldn’t cope with a 9lb rise at Wincanton and is even higher in the weights now.
Benatar (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Pulled hard, chasing leaders 4th, challenged 10th, led before 2 out, soon headed, 3rd and no extra last, 3rd of 17, 27l behind Chatham Street Lad (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Champagne Mystery (IRE) 22-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, pulled hard, steadied 3rd, fell 5th, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Alnadam (FR) 4-1fav (11-5) Chased leaders, hit 10th, pushed along before 12th, ridden after 4 out, weakened before next, 8th of 10, 29 1/2l behind Killer Clown (10-5) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Clan Legend 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, mistake 10th, good headway on inside chasing leaders approaching 10th, went 2nd 3 out, challenged next, led on long run before last, stayed on strongly, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Dashing Perk (11-5) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Colorado Doc 25-1 (10-6) Hampered and brought down 1st, at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Evander (IRE) Evensfav (10-8) Led, prominent 4th, stumbled 13th, lost position 4 out, outpaced 3 out, kept on from 2 out, went second after last but no match for winner, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Capeland (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Foxboro (GER) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leader, left in clear lead 7th, ridden and joined bypassing 2 out, headed approaching last, rallied close home, just held, 2nd of 7, hd behind Twenty Twenty (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 4f (3) sft in Jan.
Up Helly Aa King 7-2 (11-8) Bit keen, waited with in 5th place, awkward 3rd, headway chasing leaders 13th, 2nd 4 out, led going well 3 out, headed last, rallied gamely run-in, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Strong Economy (11-0) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Gardefort (FR) 4-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, lost position 8th, dropped to rear 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Doitforthevillage (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up off the pace in last pair, blundered 4th, closer in 4th before 8th, stayed on well run-in, led inside final 100 yards, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Aintree My Dream (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
