prominent, blundered 3rd, mistake and lost place 7th, well beaten after 9th, pulled up before 2 out
pressed leader, led 4 out, joined next, headed 2 out, beaten when not fluent last
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, headway 7th, challenging when not fluent 3 out, led next, clear last, heavily eased close home
led until before 9th, soon beaten, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, mistake 7th, ridden after 8th, lost place when mistake next, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, struggling when not fluent 9th, pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, headway after 9th, every chance after 4 out, one pace in 3rd 3 out, no extra next
held up towards rear, headway after 4th, not fluent and lost place 5th, closed 6th, not fluent when challenging 8th, led 9th, headed before 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
prominent, ridden and lost place after 9th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
Buywise won by seven lengths at Ludlow on Thursday and Evan Williams turns him out again here under a penalty. He should go close if a second run on heavy ground in three days doesn't take its toll. Guanciale stepped up on his first run over fences when second at Towcester but this is a better race and it remains to be seen whether Water Wagtail and Typhon De Guye will take to the larger obstacles. MIDNIGHT LIRA kept up a relentless gallop to make all at Exeter. There's a chance she'll be even better suited by this sharp course and, effectively 5lb lower, can score again under 3lb claimer James Best ahead of Uttoxeter third Russe Blanc.
Whenindoubtdoit (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, lost place before 5 out, weakened 3 out, 11th of 13, well behind Up For An Oscar (10-9) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in May.
Water Wagtail 5-1fav (11-4) Chased leaders, effort 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 4th of 15, 13l behind Sir Frank (11-11) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Buywise (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Mid-division, hit 8th, headway after 8th, went 3rd before next, travelling well before 3 out, went 2nd and stumbled 4 out, led approaching 3 out, clear next, kept on strongly, won at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy beating Take The Mick (10-6) by 7l, 11 ran.
Midnight Lira 7-2 (10-2) Made all and set steady pace, ridden before 2 out, soon in command, stayed on well, unchallenged, won at Exeter 2m 3f mares nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec beating Fair Bramble (10-5) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Russe Blanc (FR) 11-4fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, one pace in 4th next, stayed on to take 3rd last, never on terms, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Hollins (10-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec.
Guanciale 9-2 (11-6) Held up, headway approaching 5th, led before 2 out, headed flat, one pace, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Le Grand Chene (10-9) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec.
Possibly Flora 33-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders in 5th, went 2nd bypassing omitted 3 out, kept on flat, always held, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Milosam (10-1) at Taunton 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec.
Ashcott Boy 11-1 (11-6) Chased leader, led 3 out, headed after 3 out, weakening when went left 2 out and last, 5th of 12, 32l behind The Game Is A Foot (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Saint Peray (FR) 16-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, mistake 7th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden and beaten, weakened before next, tailed off, 6th of 10, 45l behind Fountains Mary (11-6) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
Typhon De Guye (FR) 9-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led narrowly 4 out, driven before 2 out, headed narrowly between last 2, every chance when mistake last, kept on until no extra towards finish, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Easy Beesy (11-8) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.