led until after 1st, chased leader until 8th, stayed close 3rd, chased leader again 18th until 4 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
led after 1st, hit 7th, headed 3 out, weakened after 2 out
held up in rear, headway 13th, behind and no chance when blundered 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
chased leading pair, went 2nd 8th, not fluent 17th, lost 2nd next, weakened before 4 out, poor 6th when pulled up before last
held up in 7th, mistake 4th, headway to 4th after 4 out, led on inside 3 out, pressed and went right last, hung right flat, headed on line
in rear, plugged on from 3 out, left poor 6th 2 out, tailed off
in touch, headway to chase leaders from 9th, 4th before 3 out, 3rd and closed from next, strong challenge and edged left flat, led on on line
chased leaders, hit 12th and dropped to rear, blundered 18th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up soon after
in last pair, tailed off when pulled up before 16th
in touch in 5th and 6th, not fluent 8th, went 2nd 4 out, challenged and ever chance 3 out, still well there last, one pace and looked held when squeezed out near line
Buffalo Bob got outpaced over a shorter trip in a much better race at Cheltenham last time but his stable has rather gone off the boil lately. I'moncloudnine hasn't been running too badly though could probably do with some help from the handicapper but Noun De La Thinte has been below par so far this term. The Rainbow Hunter has gone up in the weights after a couple of placed efforts, so we'll take a chance that FIT TO DRIVE will welcome the return to chasing having been outclassed in a Grade 3 over hurdles at Ascot last month. Brendan Powell's had jumped well when bounding clear over C&D in November. Qhilamar is better than recent efforts suggest and could make the frame at generous odds.
Buffalo Bob (IRE) 5-1 (10-3) Chased leader until 10th, weakening when mistake 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Wishfull Thinking (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Jan.
I'moncloudnine (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Mid-division, slow 6th, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 9l behind Blazing Bailey (11-10) at Ffos Las 3m 4f hcp chs (2) gs.
Its A Dream (IRE) 1-2fav (11-0) Raced in 4th, went 2nd at 15th, led before 2 out, well clear after last, won at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Dec '08 beating Space Mission (11-0) by 16l, 8 ran.
Fit To Drive 50-1 (11-0) Disputed lead, hit 6th, headed 9th, mistake next, soon weakened, 5th of 8, well behind Sparky May (11-0) at Ascot 3m hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.
The Rainbow Hunter 11-1 (11-4) Held up and behind, steady headway after 10th, chased winner and went right 13th, hit next, no impression from 2 out, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Sona Sasta (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Temoin 12-1 (11-9) Led until slow jump 1st, prominent, reminders 11th, under pressure in 4th after 4 out, weakened soon after, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out, in a race won by Ballyfoy (11-12) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan '10, 10 ran.
Qhilimar (FR) 13-2 (10-3) Held up towards rear, blundered 7th, in rear and struggling from 10th, tailed off when blundered 12th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Blazing Bailey (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan, 17 ran.
Noun De La Thinte (FR) 11-2 (10-9) Tracked leaders, slow 10th, soon under pressure, hard driven 4 out, weakened next, lost remote 3rd after last, 4th of 7, 21l behind Three Chords (10-12) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Dashing George (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Held up behind, headway after 12th, chased leading pair 14th, ridden 3 out, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd near finish, no impression with winner, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Far More Serious (11-12) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Craiglands (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Mid-division on inside, lost place when hampered 6th, behind when mistake next, lost touch and pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Frankie Figg (11-5) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gs in Nov, 16 ran.
