led to 5th, weakened from 8th, pulled up before 2 out
soon tracking leaders, outpaced from 3 out, kept on after next, took 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, weakened from 2 out
held up towards rear, never dangerous
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, hit 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, hit 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
towards rear, pushed along and weakened from 7th
in rear, headway approaching 6th, chased winner approaching 2 out, soon ridden, no extra
close up, led 5th, clear and hit 2 out, stayed on well
held up, headway on outer approaching 2 out, soon one pace
held up, headway 3 out, chased winner from 2 out until weakened towards finish
always behind
towards rear, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
The best and most valuable race of the day can fall to SIR TANTALLUS HAWK at the main expense of Bruslini, Ouzbeck and Good Old Thyme. Alan Swinbank's gelding was a good fifth to Sir Harry Ormesher at Doncaster last time out. He handles this ground and looks the sort to relish jumping these obstacles so is narrowly preferred. Bugsy's Boy will be fit from a recent run on the Flat at Kempton, Issaquah remains capable of better, whilst Ouzbeck is a talented chaser but the ground may be on the soft side for this first run for Emma Lavelle. Echo Point's third to Le Beau Bai looks rock solid but a mark of 140 looks high enough, Dansimar has become disappointing but is edging down the weights, whilst Bruslini is a progressive novice who still looks competitive off his current mark of 125. Mous Of Men should fare better than at Sandown last time out, Good Old Thyme is consistent and holds the selection on the Sir Harry Ormesher run, whilst Little Lu, Sam Lord and Sendali are all respected off their light weights. An open handicap as expected, but the vote is given to Sit Tantallus Hawk.
Echo Point (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Led, ridden between last 2, headed last, kept on, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Le Beau Bai (10-13) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl (2) gs.
Dansimar 12-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, weakened 3 out, soon tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Strawberry (11-4) at Kempton 3m hdl (2) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Ouzbeck (FR) 11-1 (11-8) In touch, ridden after 12th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Atouchbetweenacara (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G2 (1) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Issaquah (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Made most until headed 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up soon after, in a race won by Zarinava (11-0) at Doncaster 2m hdl G2 (1) gs, 12 ran.
Sir Tantallus Hawk 9-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, led approaching last, headed flat, no extra, 5th of 18, 5l behind Sir Harry Ormesher (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs.
Bugsy's Boy 4-1 (11-9) Held up in mid-division, driven approaching 3 out, ridden, edging left and weakened before next, tired when hit last, 5th of 9, 9l behind Herons Well (10-6) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Mister Watzisname (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Prominent, lost place 4th, soon in rear, struggling in 8th place at 8th (5 out), tailed off when pulled up approaching 4 out, in a race won by Pavillon Bleu (10-8) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Bruslini (FR) 7-1 (10-13) Held up, pushed along and not fluent 4 out, kept on to chase winner flat, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Gold Award (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Good Old Thyme (IRE) 17-2 (9-13) In touch, ridden approaching 3 out, led flat, soon headed, stayed on, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Sir Harry Ormesher (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs.
Honest John 7-2 (11-2) Led, hit 7th, driven and headed after 3 out, weakened from next, 5th of 7, 16l behind Overstrand (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Mous Of Men (FR) 16-1 (9-13) Held up in rear, effort 7th, soon under pressure and beaten, 7th of 10, well behind Ballyfitz (11-1) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Sam Lord 15-2 (10-0) Held up in rear, mistake 5th, headway after 3 out, led after last, headed towards finish, no extra, 2nd of 8, nk behind John Forbes (10-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Front Rank (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Prominent, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 32l behind Cassius (11-1) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Sendali (FR) 11-1 (10-0) Always prominent, led 2 out, soon ridden, held on under pressure flat, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan beating Dancing Dik (10-10) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Little Lu (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, hit 3rd, mistake 7th, soon behind, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Nesnaas (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Jul.
