tracked leaders, went 3rd from 8th, ridden before last, lost 2nd run-in, no extra
in rear, ridden before 5 out, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
led to 6th, led again 5 out, headed after 4 out, weakened from 3 out
refused to race
tracked leader, took closer order 4th, led 6th, headed 5 out, weakened after 4 out, soon tailed off
held up mid-division, pushed along before 6 out, ridden after 4 out, went 4th before 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, chased winner run-in, no impression
mid-division, driven along halfway, headway before 6 out, led after 4 out, clear and blundered 2 out, kept on well
tracked leaders, lost place 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, fell 3rd
Royaume Blue won by 16 lengths on similar going at Plumpton last month and will be fancied to double up here. He's never won off a mark this high but this isn't a great race. What A Good Night has disappointed since winning at Stratford in October but Somerby can't be ignored as he wasn't beaten far at Towcester last time and his jumping should keep him in contention around here. THE LAST BRIDGE came good around this time last year and is unexposed over fences. He's probably the reason why Richard Johnson is at Southwell today and can return to winning ways as there is no guarantee that Over And Above will reproduce the form he showed at Carlisle last time.
Royaume Bleu (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Raced keenly tracking leader, led 8th, came clear after bypassing omitted 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan beating Flugzeug (9-10) by 16l, 6 ran.
What A Good Night (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 3rd of 5, 43l behind High Ron (11-4) at Southwell 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Noble Witness (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, jumped left 1st, lost place approaching 14th, soon behind, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Flemi Two Toes (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan.
Dermatologiste 16-1 (11-1) In touch on outside, reminders after 9th, led before next, mistake and headed next, outpaced 5 out, soon beaten, 5th of 9, 26l behind Arc Warrior (10-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Epee Celeste (FR) 33-1 (11-2) Led, pushed along and headed 5th, chased leader, reminder after next, lost 2nd before 7th, soon weakened, went poor 4th after 2 out, 4th of 7, 35l behind Campbonnais (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan.
Somerby (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Led to 5th, chased leaders, headway last, kept on towards finish, 4th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Smart Exit (11-9) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan.
The Last Bridge 6-1 (10-4) Close up, ridden 7th, weakened 2 out, 6th of 11, 34l behind Night Of Passion (10-12) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Over And Above (IRE) 17-2 (10-0) Tracked leader and raced wide, went 3rd before last, led run-in, kept on well, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Jan beating Bennys Well (10-12) by 4l, 7 ran.
Waywood Princess 14-1 (10-0) Chased leaders to 8th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Rocky Stone (11-9) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Crescent Beach (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) With leader, weakened from 7th, 6th of 12, 46l behind Oh Right (9-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Jan.
No More Whispers (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) (cp) prom to 10; wl bhnd when pu 4 out, in a race won by Lilac Wine (11-7) at Exmoor 3m ptp gf in Jun, 9 ran.
