with leader, mistake 9th, ridden and lost 2nd after 3 out, weakened before next
tracked leaders on inside, blundered 11th, hit next, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace until no extra last
tracked leaders on outside, mistake 8th, hit 12th, went 2nd after 3 out, edged right 2 out, soon led, driven out
led, ridden and joined 2 out, soon edged left and headed, held final 75 yards
in rear, not fluent 1st, behind 4th, jumped slowly 7th, pulled up before next
held up in rear, mistake 4th, behind 12th, stayed on approaching last, went 3rd flat, no chance with front pair
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, rider lost irons from 8th and pulled up before next
Nonrunner
Take The Mick is likely to be a short price for this after winning by 21 lengths at Ludlow on Wednesday. That was a conditionals' race so he has no penalty here and should take all the beating. But SMART EXIT is very much at home around here and, though 5lb higher than for a narrow success over course and distance last month, is worth a small bet to follow up. Cloudingstar has been thereabouts off today's mark over hurdles lately and the switch to fences should suit the former pointer. Ball Hopper was third at Southwell at the start of the month while Cornish Ice has the past form to figure but chasing debutant Ortolan is best watched today.
Cloudingstar (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) Held up, closed 3 out, ridden in close 3rd approaching last, unable to challenge, one pace and no impression final 100 yards, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Mudita Moment (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Smart Exit (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, led 5th, ridden run-in, all out, won at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan beating Samson Collonges (9-11) by nk, 10 ran.
Nail 'm (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Prominent, outpaced in 3rd before 3 out, no impression from next, 4th of 10, 11l behind Chicklemix (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Take The Mick 9-4fav (11-5) Took keen hold, made all, not fluent 4 out, clear next, easily, won at Ludlow 3m cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy beating Lough Coi (10-4) by 21l, 11 ran.
Ball Hopper (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, headway after 4out, went 3rd 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Farbreaga (11-9) at Southwell 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
I Know The Code (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Mid-division, in touch after 7th, outpaced after 4 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 8th of 11, 41l behind Woodford County (11-12) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec.
Roparta Avenue 25-1 (10-4) Held up in touch in rear, not fluent 1st, mistake 4th, headway 8th, lost place 14th, closed and every chance when landed awkwardly 3 out, one pace flat, 4th of 6, 7l behind Young Hurricane (11-12) at Lingfield 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.
Cornish Ice 7-1 (11-11) Led, headed before 4th, remained close up, ridden before 4 out, soon went 3rd, mistake 3 out, one pace, 4th of 10, 42l behind Barton Gift (9-12) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Ortolan (GER) 10-1 (11-5) Prominent, ridden after 5th, beaten before 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 27l behind Stellar Notion (11-5) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
