chased leading pair, chased winner from 2 out, about 2 lengths down when blundered 2 out, soon no impression, weakened flat, lost 2nd post
held up in rear, never really travelled, not keen on paddock bend after 2nd, modest 7th 2 out, never a factor
chased leader, led 4th, hit 6th, joined 4 out, ridden and headed next, weakened before 2 out
led until mistake and headed 4th, chased leader until 7th, weakening when blundered 10th, soon in rear, tailed off when blundered last
chased leading trio, went 2nd 7th, led 3 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly
took keen hold early stages, held up in 6th, headway approaching 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, disputing 3rd last, weakened flat
held up in last trio, slow 3rd, headway to 4th from 4 out, went 3rd approaching next, staying on same pace when blundered badly 2 out, weakened soon after
always behind, never on terms, tailed off
held up in touch in 5th, ridden 8th, outpaced 10th, stayed on well from 2 out, went 3rd flat, took 2nd post, no chance with winner
Hold Fast's jumping left a bit to be desired when fourth to Rileyev at Newbury in November but he wasn't beaten far and is 12lb better off at the weights here. Tanks For That and stablemate Dave's Dream failed to finish when Rileyev was second at Cheltenham earlier but both were still travelling well at the time and have decent claims with a clear round here, while King Edmund won at Ascot last month though is 7lb higher now. Pret A Thou was just beaten at Wetherby over Christmas but is conceding a lot of weight to ALL FOR FREE. The latter seems to be enjoying himself over fences and may be capable of completing a hat-trick over the larger obstacles after comfortable wins at Ascot and Ludlow before the handicapper properly reels him in.
Tanks For That (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, led 5th, narrow advantage when fell 4 out, in a race won by Astracad (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Dec, 9 ran.
Dave's Dream (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Led to 5th, tracked leader, close up in 2nd when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Astracad (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Dec, 9 ran.
King Edmund 6-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, led 10th, strongly challenged 2 out, stayed on well, won at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Dec beating Renard (11-7) by 3l, 10 ran.
Pret A Thou (FR) 22-1 (10-8) Led narrowly, headed after 8th, regained lead approaching 4 out, ridden between last 2, kept on under pressure flat, headed final strides, 2nd of 7, hd behind Charingworth (9-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Dec.
Hold Fast (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Tracked leadrs until slow and lost place 4th, ridden next, rallied on outside approaching 9th, chased leaders 4 out, outpaced before 2 out, plugged on again to modest 4th flat, 4th of 7, 7l behind Rileyev (10-8) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Nomecheki (FR) 66-1 (10-2) Raced keenly, in touch, mistake 8th, blundered 10th, lost place 5 out, behind from next, pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Quantitativeeasing (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
Rileyev (FR) 10-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, lost place 8th, hampered 4 out, outpaced before next, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, ridden to lead after last, kept on under pressure flat, headed final stride, 2nd of 9, hd behind Astracad (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Dec.
Darceys Dancer (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, fell 7th, in a race won by Storm Surge (9-7) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
All For Free (IRE) 15-8fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd 8th, led before 4 out, stayed on well and in command flat, won at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec beating Wester Ross (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
