held up towards rear, in rear from 8th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
led to 8th, led before 2 out, soon headed, weakened before last
in rear, faultered and pulled up quickly after 7th
tracked leaders, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 3rd before 2 out, soon led, headed soon after, kept on and held towards finish
tracked leader, led 8th, hit 3 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway to go 4th before 2 out, soon ridden, led soon after, kept on well towards finish
Nonrunner
River Dancing was third off this mark at Ffos Las in August and should go well, despite the long break. Elton Fox was placed at Bangor in December while Ordensritter only found one too good over a shorter trip here on his penultimate outing. It was decent ground when ESSTEEPEE finished third at Worcester on his hurdling debut under Richard Johnson last October. He's struggled since on softer surfaces but might be good enough to get into the argument in a weak finale.
Elton Fox held up in rear, headway after 8th, close up 3 out, ridden, hampered and carried right after 2 out, one pace last
Essteepee 14-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 5th of 9, 36l behind Bold Adventure (11-0) at Fakenham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs.
Dunnicks Skipper 9-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway on long run before 2nd, 2nd briefly on long run before 3 out, weakened quickly soon after, 7th of 11, 45l behind Its A Long Road (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Feb.
Oscar Jane (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Mid-division, weakened before 3 out, 12th of 13, 28l behind Mini Muck (11-11) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec '13.
Ordensritter (GER) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, blundered and lost place 2nd, soon behind, some headway into mid-division before 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 13, 28l behind Dont Call Me Oscar (9-13) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Boher Lad (IRE) 33-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, kept on same pace from next, hit last, 4th of 9, 20l behind Bold Adventure (11-0) at Fakenham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs.
River Dancing (IRE) 5-4fav (10-6) In touch, led 5 out, headed 4 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Mac Le Couteau (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Aug.
John's Gem 40-1 (10-4) Pulled hard tracked leader until ridden soon after 4 out, weakened next, 7th of 8, well behind Gilzean (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
