in rear, headway after 8th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, mistake 4th, headway after 6th, challenged 3 out until before next, weakened approaching last
tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, mistake 3 out, beaten when jumped left and mistake 2 out
mid-division, ridden and struggling before 9th, tailed off
behind from 5th, tailed off
mid-division, headway 5th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, headway approaching 4th, challenged 9th, led next, headed flat, held clsoe home
in rear, headway 10th, weakened after 3 out, went remote 4th latter stages
tracked leaders, lost place after 3rd, well beaten 10th, tailed off
led until ridden 7th, weakened approaching 9th, tailed off
prominent, led 7th until 10th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear on inside, steady headway after 6th, switched right after 2 out, challenged last, led flat, stayed on
tracked leaders, mistake 10th, soon ridden, weakened next, tailed off
in touch, lost place 4th, behind 7th, pulled up before 9th
Most of these are woefully out of form and the race probably won't take much winning. EPEE CELESTE's last two runs have been disappointing but she was placed at Exeter and Towcester in November and now races off a lower mark. If she's anywhere near her best, the mare has to be in the firing-line with Willie Twiston-Davies taking off 7lb. Western Whisky is remarkably well treated on the best of his chase form but finished tailed off over the smaller obstacles at Ffos Las 17 days ago, while it remains to be seen if Honour High retains any of his old ability. Tin Pot Man and C&D winner Earcomesthedream are other on a decent mark at present and it would be no surprise if they proved best of the rest.
Galley Slave (IRE) 150-1 (10-11) Prominent 8f, tailed off, last of 14, well behind Abergavenny (11-4) at Southwell 2m n h flat (6) std.
Chicago Alley 10-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, tracked leader until hit 6th, weakened 3 out, well held 4th when belted 2 out and unseated rider, in a race won by Piment D'estruval (11-4) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug, 6 ran.
Emperor's Choice (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, soon pushed along, lost touch after next, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Native Beauty (10-11) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Honour High 16-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway approaching 8th, went 3rd briefly approaching 2 out where not fluent, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 10, well behind King Of Castile (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Tin Pot Man (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Held up in last, not fluent 1st, mistake 3rd, modest 5th after 15th, no impression, 5th of 7, 26l behind One More Dinar (11-2) at Ludlow 3m hcp ch 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
Epee Celeste (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Pressed leader until ridden and weakened quickly soon after 3 out, 5th of 8, 24l behind Langley (10-6) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
Dakota Boy (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Keen in touch, weakened 9th, behind when pulled up last, in a race won by Abnaki (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Dec, 11 ran.
Jomade (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Mid-division, mistake 5th, lost place approaching 8th, behind from next, 11th of 13, well behind Absolute Shambles (10-4) at Bangor 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jul.
Earcomesthedream (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Mid-division, ridden and lost place after 4th, in rear 6th, no impression, 6th of 12, 30l behind Hohlethelonely (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
Western Whisky (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Led until 4th, ridden and weakened after 6th, soon behind, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Pension Plan (10-11) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Mass Hysteria (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 11, well behind Carmela Maria (10-8) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Changing Lanes 6-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, lost place approaching 6th, weakened after 7th, pulled up after next, in a race won by Al Shababiya (10-12) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan, 7 ran.
Le Chasse Spleen (FR) 200-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, lost place before 5th, 11th of 14, well behind Knock A Hand (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Point Of Reference 40-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 12, 31l behind Hohlethelonely (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
Massachusetts 18-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway when mistake 6th, weakened after 3 out, hampered last, tailed off, 9th of 12, 50l behind Hohlethelonely (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
Velvet Vic (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, took keen hold, headway befre 3 out, kept on towards finish, 4th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Via Archimede (11-2) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jan.
