held up towards rear, ridden 6th, stayed on after 3 out, chased leaders and jumped right 2 out, took 2nd close home
in rear, steady headway 7th, led on bit 2 out, ridden approaching last, ran on
in touch, took closer order 7th, weakened 9th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, ridden 9th, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out
in touch and never going, soon driven along, chased leaders 3 out, weakened soon after, pulled up before last
in touch, ridden 6th, weakened 8th, behind when unseated rider 3 out
led 1st, headed next, weakened after 4th, lost touch 7th, pulled up before 2 out
led after 1st, ridden when headed 2 out, weakened last
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden and weakened 2 out
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
in touch, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
in touch, lost place after 6th, stayed on from 3 out, in 4th and held when mistake last
mid-division, ridden 6th, weakening when hampered 3 out
mid-division, ridden 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway 8th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened soon after
A big field for this handicap contest but not too many are likely to be involved in the closing stages. Classic Fair, Moorlands Return, Radnor Lad and Montecorvino could find themselves battling this out and we take the latter to come out on top. Nigel Twiston-Davies is in form at present and Montecorvino seems to enjoy himself around here, notching up his only win to date in a two mile novices' hurdle in January of last year. He enjoys getting his toe in, was unlucky last time, and in the hope that first time blinkers will do the job we will take a chance on him. Classic Fair will be popular after winning at Taunton last time but has to prove that he really gets this trip in heavy ground and with a doubt over that will will just oppose. Moorlands Return has form with the recently red hot Schuh Shine at Warwick on New Year's Eve and was not far away at Newbury last time so is not passed over lightly, while Radnor Lad will enjoy a trip and some bottomless ground, but he just looks to have a few pounds too many and we prefer to take a chance on Montecorvino.
Eurocelt (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Mid-division, reminders before halfway, 7th 6 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out pulled up in race won by Walk Over (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 6f hcp chs 0-109 sft in Nov, 14 ran.
Green Prospect (FR) 4-1 (11-6) Close up, ridden 7th, soon struggling, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Come Bye (11-8) at Folkestone 2m 6f sll hdl (5) sft in Jan, 8 ran.
Classic Fair 6-1 (11-2) In touch until 5th, soon driven along, steady headway under pressure from 3 out, stayed on led near finish, won at Taunton 3m mrs mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec beating River Tigris (11-2) by a nk, 14 ran.
Moorlands Return 5-2fav (10-11) Mid-division, driven along from 6th, headway into 5th 2 out, stayed on, 3rd of 15, 3l behind Knighton Lad (11-9) at Newbury 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Montecorvino (GER) 6-1 (11-7) In rear, hampered 2nd, ridden and not fluent 6th, no chance when pulled up 5 out in race won by Ikemba (9-9) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Radnor Lad 9-2 (11-3) Led, headed 6th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, stayed on approaching last, 4th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Ikemba (9-9) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Lissara (IRE) 14-1 (10-2) Mid-division, struggling after 6th, stayed on approaching last, 5th of 17, 11l behind Or Jaune (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) gs.
Royal Niece (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Behind, headway 3 out, outpaced next, headway and mistake last, stayed on, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Alderbrook Girl (10-4) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
