tracked leaders, disputed lead 4 out, led narrowly after next, ridden flat, stayed on towards finish
made most to 4 out, soon lost place, behind and struggling next, soon ridden, rallied flat just failed for moderate 3rd near finish
tracked leaders on inside, outpaced 8th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
in touch on outside, dropped towards rear 5th, lost touch after 7th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
held up in last pair in touch, struggling 8th, tailed off 3 out
always prominent on outside, led 4 out, headed narrowly after next, not fluent 2 out, ridden and every chance when not fluent again last, kept on, no extra final 50 yards
chased leaders, reminder after 8th, soon outpaced, rallied into 3rd after 3 out, no chance with front pair from next, just held on for moderate 3rd near finish
held up in last pair on outside, struggling 8th, tailed off 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced in 4th after 4 out, no chance with leaders from next, plugged on same pace
Super Sam won a maiden hurdle at Chepstow but was a big disappointment under a penalty at Bangor last time. FISHING BRIDGE may prove a safer bet on the back of a win in testing ground at Ffos Las and he gets the nod. Virtuel D'Oudon has been chasing of late but has won twice over timber and Kieron Edgar takes 5lb off his back for this. He makes more appeal than Whats left, who may prove best of the remainder.
Virtuel D'oudon (FR) 7-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, blundered 3rd, blundered 15th, pushed along 17th, soon lost place, pulled up, in a race won by Neptune Equester (10-4) at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
As De Fer (FR) 5-1 (11-9) Led, headed after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up next, in a race won by Firebird Flyer (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov, 5 ran.
Whats Left (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, no chance with winner before next, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 11, 12l behind Fletchers Flyer (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Makethe Mostofnow (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up, hampered 1st, headway tracking leaders 5th, weakened before 15th, tailed off and struggling in 6th when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Cadeau George (11-2) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Storm Alert 9-1 (11-0) Held up, not fluent, mistake 10th, blundered 12th, mistake next, weakened 14th, last of 6, well behind Jupiter Rex (11-6) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
The Italian Yob (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Led until before 4 out, chased leaders, 2nd before 3 out, driven along before next, chance when not fluent 2 out, lost 2nd at the last, weakened run-in, 4th of 8, 8l behind Bygones Sovereign (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Super Sam 15-8 (11-5) Tracked leaders, disputed 2nd at 6th until ridden 3 out, soon struggling, left poor 3rd at last, 3rd of 5, 33l behind Simply The West (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Cafe Au Lait (GER) 25-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, lost place 5 out, soon beaten, behind when fell last, in a race won by Kilcooley (11-5) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec, 10 ran.
Fishing Bridge (IRE) 11-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, soon led, edged left and not fluent last, hung left flat, driven out, won at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy beating Speed Master (11-11) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
