pressed leader, led 5th, narrowly headed 12th, led again approaching 13th, mistake and headed next, chased leader, went left 17th, went right again and lost 2nd next, weakened rapidly, eaesed, tailed off
held up in rear, steady headway from 10th, chased leaders 16th, went 3rd after 4 out, went 2nd and every chance 3 out, lost 2nd before next, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, fell 2nd
ran in snatches, in touch, outpaced in 5th at 14th, struggling after 4 out, plugged on again after 2 out
chased leaders, stumbled and lost place 12th, in rear when blundered 18th, tailed off when fell 4 out
held up in 6th, good headway to chase leaders 12th, went 4th at 14th, went 2nd 18th, led approaching 3 out, clear from next, stayed on well
patiently ridden in rear, steady headway 16th, chased leading quartet after 4 out, challenged 3 out, stayed on to 2nd before last, no chance of reaching winner
led, went left and headed 5th, hit 7th, pressed leader, led again approaching 12th, narrowly headed approaching 13th, chased leader, led again 15th, joined 4 out, headed before next, weakened and mistake 3 out
chased leaders, every chance 3 out, stayed on same pace fom next
behind, mistakes 9th and next, blundered and nearly unseated rider 13th, blundered 16th, blundered and unseated rider 17th
Former winners Hoo La Baloo and Bolachoir face the starter again this year. The former has a good record around here but hasn't raced since August while the latter was soon behind over C&D three weeks ago and finished behind Sizing America and Masked Man. Hoo La Baloo's trainer, Paul Nicholls, saddled Red Harbour to win a novice event at Fontwell last September but he's changed stables since and is another returning from a lay-off. Battlecry is consistent and shouldn't be far away but Vincitore blotted his copybook at Fakenham last time and this may be too far for Investment Affair. TEDDY'S REFLECTION made a pleasing return in a hunter chase at Ffos Las considering he is better going right-handed. He could be worth an interest in this under the experienced Tim Edwards if that run has brought him forward.
Battlecry 7-1 (10-10) Led until 4th, led again 7th, headed 15th, weakened flat, 3rd of 11, 13l behind Only Witness (9-10) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Hoo La Baloo (FR) 10-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, lost place 6th, rallied after 4 out, stayed on approaching last and pressed for 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 3rd of 14, 6l behind Stewarts House (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Aug.
Teddy's Reflection (IRE) 15-8 (11-13) Prominent, went 2nd after 4th until 8th, chased leaders, went 2nd again before next, ridden before 3 out, no chance with winner from after next, 2nd of 8, 10l behind Cave Hill (11-3) at Ffos Las 3m hts chs (4) sft in Feb.
Bolachoir (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Held up in touch on outside, struggling halfway, outpaced when hampered 10th, never near leaders, 6th of 10, well behind Bradley (11-7) at Sandown 3m am chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Investment Affair (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Held up, headway when jumped right 5th, hit 12th and 13th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 9, well behind Dont Tell Sailor (11-3) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Jan.
Masked Man (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Raced wide in touch, lost place 17th, soon beaten, 5th of 10, 40l behind Bradley (11-7) at Sandown 3m am chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Red Harbour (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Held up in last pair, not fluent 11th, headway after 13th, ridden approaching 4 out, went 3rd 3 out, no impression, weakened after 2 out, demoted to 4th flat, 4th of 7, 24l behind Viking Blond (11-4) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (4) gs in Oct.
Sizing America (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Led, headed after 9th, led again before 12th, headed last, ridden and kept on flat, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Bradley (11-7) at Sandown 3m am chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Vincitore (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, mistake 12th, soon ridden and struggling, pulled up 4 out, in a race won by On Borrowed Wings (11-5) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb, 10 ran.
Zhukov (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Pulled hard, soon intouch on outside, led and raced wide after 9th, headed before 12th, lost place next, tailed off 3 out, soon unseated rider, in a race won by Bradley (11-7) at Sandown 3m am chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb, 10 ran.