tracked leaders, challenged approaching 2 out, led on bit when not fluent last, unextended, very cheekily
led until after 2nd, tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, ridden and headed last, stayed on, no impression on unextended winner
chased leaders who went clear 3rd, behind 6th, tailed off
not fluent 3rd, towards rear, behind 6th
took keen hold, led after 2nd, clear 6th until after 3 out, headed when mistake 2 out, no extra
held up towards rear, jumped left 1st, no chance from 6th, plugged on
mid-division, lost place when not fluent 3rd, last when hampered 5th, soon tailed off
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, outpaced by leaders before 2 out, weakening when mistake last
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, tailed off 6th
mid-division, jumped right 1st, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer
held up in rear, blundered and unseated rider 5th
mid-division, took keen hold, behind 6th
chased leaders who went clear 3rd, weakened 6th, tailed off
DARLAN looks a nice prospect and is fancied to see off the slightly more exposed Jump City off level weights. Nicky Henderson's five-year-old had to be ridden right out to land the odds at Cheltenham last time but was possibly in need of the run, while Paul Nicholls' charge has been tackling further lately and dropped away tamely last time - he may be ready for a rest. Dukes Art is a possible improver and Giordano Bruno was a smart prospect in bumpers in 2009, though has been off the track for long time. Green Lightning, Kings Bayonet and Smart George are all newcomers worth noting if the market speaks in their favour.
Darlan 4-6fav (11-4) Mid-division on inside, headway 2 out, challenged between last 2, led narrowly last, ridden and headed narrowly flat, stayed on under pressure to regain lead towards finish, just held on, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gd in Dec beating High Storm (10-12) by ns, 9 ran.
Jump City (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last, 9th of 14, 21l behind Barbatos (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gs.
Alarming Alacrity (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, never troubled leaders, 5th of 9, 40l behind Numen (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Dukes Art 66-1 (11-2) Behind until kept on approaching last, never near leaders, 6th of 12, 28l behind Grumeti (10-6) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Giordano Bruno (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Held up and keen, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 19, 5l behind Sitting Tennant (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nat hunt flat Grade 2 (1) gs in Apr '09.
Jawhary 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders, tracked winner from 5th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 11, well behind Agent Archie (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Kierann (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) In rear, lost touch after 6th, tailed off, last of 14, well behind Lets Get Serious (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Kings Bayonet 12-1 (11-6) Slowly into stride, held up in last, headway over 2f out, soon switched left, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 14l behind Shesha Bear (10-10) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Sep (flat).
Lundy Bay 33-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 7f out until ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 12, 30l behind Hazy Tom (11-0) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gd in Sep.
Presenting Ace (IRE) 40-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway into mid-division 6th, no further progress, never near leaders, 7th of 13, 48l behind Black Thunder (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Lisselan Amazon (IRE) (8-8) 98th of 20, 6l behind Chat De La Burg (8-11) at Chantilly(FR) 1m 2f 4yo clm gd in May (flat).
Home Run (GER) 50-1 (10-7) Towards rear, headway on outside approaching 5th, ridden and weakened before next, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Ashbrittle (11-2) at Lingfield 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy.
Smart George (IRE) 7-2 (9-2) Tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 4l behind The Absent Mare (8-10) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct (flat).
Green Lightning (IRE) 9-1 (9-1) Held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 18l behind Record Breaker (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct (flat).
