in touch, lost place approaching 9th, headway after 11th, weakened approaching 13th, well tailed off 18th, pulled up after
held up in rear, moved in modest 7th 15th, soon weakened, behind 18th, pulled up after
in rear on outside, headway approaching 9th, lost place before 13th, modest 7th when blundered 17th, behind before 3 out, pulled up after
mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 6th
tracked leaders, mistake 9th, soon lost place, pushed along after 12th, behind from 13th, tailed off
held up in rear, headway approaching 13th, mistake 16th, went 3rd 3 out, soon well held
led until before 2nd, led 6th until 10th, not fluent and ridden 15th, hit 17th, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
prominent, not fluent 12th, ridden 16th, 4th when blundered 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off
tracked leaders, lost place 3rd, in rear when jumped slowly 10th, behind 13th, tailed off
led approaching 2nd until 6th, led 10th, ridden and stayed on well from 2 out, drew further clear from last
mid-division, headway 8th, went 2nd 17th until after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
prominent when mistake 1st, soon mid-division, in touch 11th, 7th when blundered and unseated rider 13th
held up in rear, headway 4th, chased winner after 4 out, soon ridden, no impression when not fluent last
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
It looks like Father Time may be catching up with course specialist Eric's Charm who is giving lumps of weight to his rivals here. Magic Sky will have been freshened up by a spin in a jumpers' bumper last month and seems to stay this trip well enough nowadays. He should be thereabouts along with the lightly-weighted Youngstown, runner-up to subsequent winner Sarde at Market Rasen on his latest start. Nicto De Beauchene suggested his turn wasn't far away at Newbury last time but he may not have beaten Leading Contender that day had the latter not unseated Rhys Flint at the second-last. This, however, looks a decent opportunity for FAR MORE SERIOUS to regain the winning thread. Comparatively lightly-raced, Charlie Longsdon's consistent 11-year-old just needed the run when second to Quinze at Ascot and will appreciate the more searching test of stamina here.
Eric's Charm (FR) 66-1 (11-9) Went right at some fences, held up towards rear, struggling 14th, tailed off, 9th of 17, well behind Midnight Chase (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov.
Horner Woods (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Always behind, hit 7th and next, no chance when hit 4 out, tailed off, 13th of 16, well behind Midnight Chase (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Dec.
Fortification (USA) 13-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, hit 4 out, ridden and well there 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 4th of 16, 25l behind Buck Magic (10-7) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Far More Serious (IRE) 5-2 (11-10) Led, headed 3rd, tracked leaders, went 2nd 15th, soon pressed winner until approaching 2 out, one pace after, 2nd of 6, 14l behind Quinz (11-8) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
South O'The Border 4-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, ridden in 5th approaching 4 out, went well held 4th 2 out, 4th of 7, 43l behind Royal Charm (11-1) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Leading Contender (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 15th, driven and 3 lenghts 3rd when mistake and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by West End Rocker (11-11) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Dec, 13 ran.
Midnight Haze 11-2 (11-10) Led to 5th, tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 15, 26l behind Only Vintage (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Soixante (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Close up, led 8th, headed approaching 10th, every chance approaching 4 out, blundered 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 16l behind Chance Du Roy (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Apr.
Ma Yahab 33-1 (9-8) Towards rear, pushed along after 6th, tailed off from 12th, soon pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Merigo (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 30 ran.
Nicto De Beauchene (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Led until 8th, not fluent when regaining lead 12th, headed 4 out, not fluent 2 out, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind West End Rocker (11-11) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Dec.
Youngstown (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd and keen, led 7th, headed approaching next, led again 10th, headed after 4 out and outpaced, chased winner approaching 2 out, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 4, 5l behind Sarde (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Appleaday (IRE) 100-1 (10-0) Always behind, tailed off, 14th of 16, well behind Midnight Chase (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Dec.
Quattrocento (FR) 5-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, driven when blundered 5 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Cavers Glen (10-4) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Magic Sky (FR) 25-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden 5f out, kept on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Free World (11-0) at Kempton 2m Nat Hunt Flat (5yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Burren Legend (IRE) 40-1 (10-8) Behind, hampered 12th, tailed off 17th, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Meanus Dandy (9-11) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Nov, 14 ran.
Bench Warrent (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, with leaders 9th, jumped right and blundered 17th, led 4 out, ridden headed approaching 3 out, disputing 6th and held when fell 2 out, in a race won by Peut Etre Sivola (10-4) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov, 10 ran.
Fit To Drive 14-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, ridden to lead approaching last, soon clear, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov beating Sarahs Gift (10-12) by 10l, 10 ran.
Drybrook Bedouin 50-1 (12-0) Always behind, mistake and ridden 12th, fell last, in a race won by Roulez Cool (12-0) at Stratford 3m 4f hts chs (2) gf in May, 15 ran.
