in touch, tracked leaders 8th, disputed lead when blundered 14th, not much room on inside 18th, lost place after 3 out (usual 4 out), 4th 2 out, ridden and stayed on to take narrow 3rd closing stages
held up in touch, tracked leaders after 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden to challenge approaching last, led soon after, stayed on under pressure flat (3rd last fence omitted on both circuits)
tracked leaders, mistake 16th, went 2nd after 3 out (usual 4 out), soon challenged, every chance when hit 2 out, no extra last, lost 3rd closing stages
tracked leaders, disputed lead 11th, hit next, blundered 16th, lost place after 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden and weakened before omitted 3 out, tailed off when pulled up next
led to 2nd, remained prominent, hit 4th, blundered and lost place 14th, pulled up before next
prominent on outside, pushed along bypassing omitted 3 out, 5th and beaten when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
raced keenly, made most from 2nd, tended to jump right, hard pressed 2 out, ridden and headed soon after last, kept on same apce
held up in touch, not fluent 11th, pushed along after 3 out (usual 4 out), weakened bypassing omitted 3 out, tailed off
NonRunner
Pete The Feat is a standing dish here and won this last year, though is still 5lb higher and has one of the least experienced amateurs on board. Mendip Express isn’t much younger and hasn’t won outside of hunter chase company in four years but Thomas Crapper made a welcome return to form at Southwell last month while Fifty Shades went close in a similar race at Cheltenham after a break. Knockanrawley is on a long losing run but well handicapped as a result and stays well. Despite looking in need of the run, HEY BILL was prominent for a long way on his return to action at Ludlow and eased in the closing stages. He’ll strip fitter here and gets a tentative vote.
Pete The Feat (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Mid-division, effort on inside 18th, not much room 3 out, no impression before next, 7th of 11, 25l behind Loose Chips (11-1) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Mendip Express (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, chased winner 2nd until 15th, 4th and beaten when hit 2 out, no extra, 6th of 11, 19l behind Loose Chips (11-1) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Perform (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) With leaders, led 6 out, headed 4 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 23 1/2l behind Just A Sting (11-4) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Potters Corner (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, weakened before 5 out, tailed off, 9th of 11, dist behind Just A Sting (11-4) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Knockanrawley (IRE) 9-2 (11-13) Held up, closer 6th, headway chasing leaders before 14th, ridden in 3rd before 4 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 6, dist behind Spookydooky (11-7) at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Apr.
Hey Bill (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Led and disputed until 17th, lost 2nd next, weakened before 4 out, tailed off and blundered last, 6th of 9, dist behind Gardiners Hill (10-10) at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Thomas Crapper 7-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway 13th, mistake lost momentum and reminders next, closed before 15th, 2nd 3 out, challenged next, soon led, clear towards finish, won at Southwell 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Azure Fly (11-1) by 4l, 5 ran.
Fifty Shades (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) In rear, headway on inside 4 out, 3rd and closing last, stayed on well to hold every chance towards finish, held close home, 2nd of 19, 3/4l behind Sam Red (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Wicked Willy (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, headway on outside before 3 out, driven to chase leaders before next, never on terms, weakened between last 2, 5th of 8, 19 1/4l behind Rolling Maul (11-12) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
