held up towards rear, headway from 17th, stayed on to close on front pair before last, unable to challenge
chased leaders, mistake 17th, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, 4th and beaten last
prominent, led 3rd, not fluent 6th, pecked 13th, mistake 18th, ridden and headed when mistake 3 out, no impression on winner from last, stayed on same pace
led until 3rd, prominent, not fluent 18th, led before 3 out, stayed on gamely
prominent, jumped big and reminder 11th, mistake 14th, jumped slowly and lost place 15th, behind 17th, tailed off
jumped slightly left at times, always in rear, behind 17th, tailed off and pulled up
held up, not fluent 10th, headway from 17th, not fluent next, outpaced when not fluent 3 out, plugged on
chased leaders, pushed along when not fluent 12th, soon given reminder, not fluent next, lost place next, behind 17th, tailed off
Doncaster winner Relax looks to be improving but has a penalty to overcome here, which won't be easy. We prefer MOUNTAINOUS, who is another progressive sort. Richard Lee's eight-year-old is still a novice but he jumped well when winning at Chepstow in December and again when only finding a rejuvenated Loch Ba too good on his handicap debut at Newbury. Richard's Sundance will probably make the running but should be thereabouts again at the finish and makes more appeal than There's No Panic, who probably needs to be dropped a few pounds. George Nympton may struggle to last home over this longer trip and the company looks too hot for Delgany Gunner while Only Witness lacks a recent run and The Falklander is woefully out of form.
There's No Panic (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, left 2nd before 13th, no impression in 3rd from 3 out, weakened last, demoted to 4th close home, 4th of 5, 17l behind Opening Batsman (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 5f Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (3) sft in Jan.
Mountainous (IRE) 4-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 12, 8l behind Loch Ba (11-7) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Relax (FR) 5-2fav (11-10) Tracked leader, led 9th, clear before 3 out, easily, won at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft beating Do It For Dalkey (11-8) by 4 1/2l, 14 ran.
Richard's Sundance (IRE) 13-2 (10-9) Led until 2nd, prominent, not fluent 10th or 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 10, 33l behind Master Overseer (11-11) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Jan.
Only Witness (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Disputed lead until 5th, chased leaders, went 2nd 15th led 18th, narrowly headed 3 out, readily held before last, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Any Currency (11-3) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Oct.
George Nympton (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, slipped badly 7th, not recover, 6th of 8, 42l behind Rody (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
The Falklander 12-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, reminders 10th, blundered next, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Tour Des Champs (11-10) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Delgany Gunner 16-1 (9-10) Held up mid-division, pushed along before 8th, chased leaders and ridden after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 12, 15l behind Everdon Brook (10-0) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
