tracked leader, lost place 9th, mistake 13th, soon tailed off, pulled up 3 out
made all, 15 lengthes clear 12th, pushed along 2 out, unchallenged
reluctant to race and lost 30 lengths at start, headway 3rd, chased leaders 6th, effort 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, hit 10th, weakened 5 out, behind when pulled up last
held up in touch, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, hard driven 2 out, kept on under pressure, no chance with winner
Nonrunner
The luckless Topless has now finished runner-up nine times over fences, including over C&D on her penultimate start. No-one would begrudge Neil Mulholland's grey mare a first victory over the larger obstacles but she again may find one too good in the form of CHAMIREY. An out-and-out stayer over hurdles, Donald McCain's eight-year-old clearly found 2m5f too sharp when only third on his chasing debut at Sedgefield but jumped well in the main and can put that experience to good use here. The lightly-raced Not So Prudent, a promising second on his first start over fences at Uttoxeter last month, looks the pick of the remainder.
Buffalo Creek (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Chased winner until 3rd, ridden 6th, behind and pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Frascati Park (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Chamirey (FR) 6-4fav (11-1) Led, joined 5 out, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Kellystown Lad (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Jolly Boys Outing (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Always behind, 6th of 12, well behind Blaze Ahead (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m hts chs (6) gf in May.
Not So Prudent (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, went poor 3rd, before 13th, plugged on from 4 out, went 2nd after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Glenwood Knight (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m beg chs (4) hvy in Dec.
Preuty Boy (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden 8f out, lost place over 3f out, hung left 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 7l behind The Hollinwell (11-0) at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Topless (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Led 2nd, made most after, not fluent 8th, pressed 3 out, ridden and headed before last, weakened flat, 2nd of 8, 18l behind Abbey Dore (10-5) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy.