held up in rear, headway 12th, chased leading pair before 2 out, staying on in 3rd and about 2 lengths down when fell last
held up towards rear, blundered 2nd, reminder after 8th, weakened from 11th, left remote 3rd and blundered last
tracked leader, weakened before 3 out, left remote 4th and blundered badly last
tracked leaders, hit 12th, blundered badly next, soon weakened
held up towards rear, reminders after 8th, weakened before next
led, blundered 8th, headed after 3 out, quickly weakened and pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch and keen, weakened from 12th
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 4 out, led after 3 out, blundered and headed 2 out, about 2 lengths down in 2nd when left in led after last, headed last 75 yards, no extra
prominent, went 2nd from 10th, led narrowly and blundered 2 out, about 2 lengths up and going well when blundered lasr, soon headed, rallied run-in, regained lead last 75 yards, kept on well
held up towards rear, weakened from 9th
Nonrunner
Pyracantha had Lord Villez behind when just failing to overhaul Glencree at Catterick last month. That was the six-year-old's first run over the larger obstacles so he is almost certainly open to further improvement here. Stablemate Sir Tantallus Hawk still has something to learn about jumping fences, however, based on an error-strewn debut third at Wetherby. Lightening Rod won twice over hurdles and comes here off the back of a victory in a jumpers' bumper at Southwell but it's about time THE KNOXS enjoyed a change of fortune. Howard Johnson's charge has the look of a chaser and had a first success over fences in his grasp when falling at the last at Ayr last month. He'd suffered a soft fall at Newcastle on his reappearance but clearly has ability and should make it third-time lucky here if Brian Hughes can coax him round safely.
Lightening Rod 9-2 (10-11) Held up well in rear, headway over 6f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well to come clear final 100 yards (no time taken), won at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec beating Moorlands Teri (10-0) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Lord Villez (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 8th, ridden to chase winner before 2 out until before last, kept on, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Glencree (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chase (4) gs in Jan.
Mini Beck 11-10fav (10-9) Led, not fluent 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace flat, 4th of 6, 5l behind Jago River (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Pyracantha 11-2 (11-0) Tracked leader on inner, ridden to chase winner before last, hard ridden run-in, kept on, just failed, 2nd of 12, ns behind Glencree (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chase (4) gs in Jan.
Qbuster (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear and keen, reminders after 7th, hit 5 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 45l behind Allanard (11-1) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
Riskier 28-1 (10-7) Led and took keen hold, going well when fell 17th, in a race won by Radharc Na Mara (10-7) at Sedgefield 3m 3f mdn chs (4) gs in Jan, 6 ran.
Robertewenutter 28-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, weakened 4 out, last of 9, 33l behind Borero (10-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Sir Tantallus Hawk 9-1 (10-12) In rear in 4th and mistakes, left 3rd at 7th, never dangerous, 3rd of 4, well behind Alfie Sherrin (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Jan.
The Knoxs (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd at 5th, challenged 4 out, led approaching next, clear approaching 2 out, 10 lengths up when fell last, in a race won by Elzahann (10-7) at Ayr 2m 5f beg chase (4) gs in Jan, 5 ran.
Mind Shower (IRE) 18-1 (9-11) Led to 8th, quickly weakened before 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Wor Rom (11-4) at Newcastle 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft, 17 ran.
Winged Farasi 25-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 7th to chase leaders, ridden and kept on same pace from last, 6th of 16, 7l behind Sambelucky (9-11) at Catterick 2m 3f am hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
