tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th until 8th, not fluent 13th, outpaced 19th, no impression after, modest 4th 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, went wide on approach to 9th, mistake 13th, blundered 14th, mistake next, soon well behind, pulled up before 17th
led, not always fluent, mistake and headed 15th, weakened before 3 out
tracked leader until 4th, went 2nd again before 12th, led 15th, clear flat, stayed on
held up towards rear, blundered badly 15th, mistake when behind 16th, pulled up before next
chased leaders, pushed along before 9th, went prominent 11th until before 12th where not fluent, outpaced 19th, well held after, plugged on from 2 out
held up, not fluent 10th, last after next, headway 16th, went 2nd after 19th, held by winner last, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, headway 16th, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 8th until before 12th, outpaced before 3 out, no impression on front pair after, stayed on flat
The Italian Yob has been showing signs of life over hurdles lately and could be a factor if translating that improvement back to chasing. Arbeo, right back to form last time at Huntingdon, and On Trend are other course winners in the line-up but the latter was pulled up at Newbury last time in a race in which the consistent Russe Blanc finished runner-up. Saroque is only a couple of pounds higher than when second here in November but he was beaten 20 lengths that day and took a heavy fall at Wincanton on his latest start. ITOLDYOU has been raised 6lb for winning the Sussex National but this could well develop into a test of stamina, which will suit. Linda Jewell's stayer should be thereabouts again if handling these tricky fences.
Saroque (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Led until fell heavily 8th, in a race won by Monkerty Tunkerty (11-1) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Ballybough Pat (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up, closed 2nd, led 10th, headed 4 out, weakened flat, 4th of 7, 18l behind Algernon Pazham (11-0) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) sft in Jan.
The Italian Yob (IRE) 7-4fav (10-5) Always prominent on outside, led 4 out, headed narrowly after next, not fluent 2 out, ridden and every chance when not fluent again last, kept on, no extra final 50 yards, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Virtuel D'oudon (11-7) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.
No Duffer 11-4 (11-7) Tracked leaders, slow 1st, every chance when crumpled badly on landing 4 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Sixty Something (11-12) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec, 5 ran.
Liberty One (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) In touch in mid-division, closed after 6th, mistake 4 out, ridden after next, 4th and one pace 2 out, 4th of 9, 7l behind Al Alfa (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) gs in Dec.
On Trend (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Chased clear leading pair until 5th, weakened 9th, tailed off when blundered 14th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Smiles For Miles (11-7) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Russe Blanc (FR) 7-1 (10-11) Tended to jump right, chased leaders, outpaced before 9th, pushed along before 14th, rallied under pressure into 4th 3 out, stayed on into 2nd after the last and every chance until no extra run-in, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Smiles For Miles (11-7) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Itoldyou (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway and in touch 12th, went 2nd next, driven 14th, led 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well under pressure flat, won at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan beating Viking Blond (10-3) by 2l, 12 ran.
Arbeo (IRE) 2-1fav (11-9) Made all, not fluent 10th or 2 out, edged left before last, clear flat, stayed on, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan beating Merchant Of Milan (11-4) by 10l, 6 ran.
