held up in rear, jumped slowly 9th and 12th, soon ridden, weakened before 5 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, hard ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, weakened before last
chased leaders, under pressure 2 out, weakened after last
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, jumped slowly 12th, weakened before 5 out
always prominent, every chance from 2 out until blundered badly last, no extra closing stages
held up towards rear, under pressure 5 out, raced wide and headway after 3 out, kept on well closing stages, never able to challenge
made all, strongly challenged from 2 out, hard ridden after last, held on gamely towards finish (3 fences omitted)
in touch, headway 3 out, soon tracking leaders, hard driven to challenge after last, stayed on strongly, never reached winner
held up in rear, headway approaching 13th, chased leaders after 3 out, never on terms
held up towards rear, under pressure 15th, stayed on after 2 out, never on terms
NonRunner
NonRunner
Doing Fine is engaged at Huntingdon on Sunday in case of any change in the going and Sugar Baron is preferred having gone close in an amateurs’ chase at Cheltenham on his reappearance. Cresswell Breeze and The Happy Chappy are upped in class off higher marks having won their latest starts and Dancing Shadow has been raised 6lb after scoring at Exeter. But another recent winner in HOUBLON DES OBEAUX is preferred given he’s only 2lb higher than when successful over 3m here last month and was placed in both the Midlands and Welsh Grand Nationals last season so this longer distance will suit. Southfield Theatre and Fletchers Flyer are also good enough to figure if back to their best.
Southfield Theatre (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, staying on into 4th when blundered last, 4th of 16, 11 3/4l behind Present Man (11-0) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 5-2 (11-6) Held up in last pair, close up after 11th, went 3rd when hit 14th, driven to chase leader before 3 out, ridden after next, upsides last, led flat, all out, won at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov beating Third Intention (11-10) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Fletchers Flyer (IRE) 6-1fav (11-1) Mid-division, weakened 15th, behind when pulled up 5 out, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Dancing Shadow (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Made all, ridden after 3 out, hard pressed last, kept on under pressure flat, edged left and held on towards finish, won at Exeter 2m 6f (3) sft in Nov beating Just A Sting (10-12) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Cresswell Breeze 7-1 (11-7) Prominent, led before 3 out, headed before 2 out, ridden to regain lead before last, kept on well run-in, won at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Cyclop (10-5) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Doing Fine (IRE) 15-2 (10-9) Held up behind, headway after 4 out, ridden to chase leaders after next, one pace 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd flat, no impression, 3rd of 16, 5 3/4l behind Cogry (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Benbens (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Behind, headway when hit 17th, went 4th 4 out, driven to chase leaders before next, soon ridden and outpaced, kept on from last, never on terms, 4th of 8, 18 3/4l behind Perfect Candidate (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Sugar Baron (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Mid-division, towards rear and struggling 4 out, still plenty to do after next, soon ridden, headway under pressure after last, finished well to take 2nd near finish, not quite reach winner, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind What A Moment (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Topper Thornton (IRE) 22-1 (11-8) Held up behind, headway on inside after 5 out, driven to challenge last, upsides and every chance flat, ridden and kept on towards finish, just held, 2nd of 15, hd behind Harry The Viking (11-3) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
The Happy Chappy (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, jumped left 2nd, headway from 4 out, left clear 2nd 2 out, closed on leader last, stayed on, led towards finish, win going away, won at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Miami Present (11-10) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
The Young Master 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, blundered and unseated rider 5th, at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Milansbar (IRE) 10-1 (12-1) Prominent, weakened from 12th, 6th of 9, 6 1/2l behind Delusionofgrandeur (11-12) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
