not fluent, always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leader until approaching 4th, 2nd again 5th until blundered badly 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 4th until 5th, mistake 8th, left 2nd 3 out, switched right and closing when carried right and hampered last, weakened flat
led, hung left after 2 out, went badly right last, hung left flat, headed towards finish
in rear, soon pushed along, never in contention
towards rear, ridden after 5th, struggling 8th
chased leaders, slightly hampered and reminders 6th, lost ground on leaders, driven 4 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, switched right flat, led towards finish
mid-division, headway 5th, jumped right next, struggling after 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last to 3rd flat
mid-division, struggling when mistake 8th, plugged on flat
towards rear on outside, behind from 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
It can be argued that MR IRONMAN is still handy at the weights despite recent successes and given that he lands the selection in this two mile Handicap Chase ahead of the consistent Devil's River while Furze Hill looks on for a place. The form from the pick's win at this track over further has begun to work out well when he also proved a liking for testing conditions. He is yet to win over a test this sharp but the bottomless ground should help on that front so under a workable weight he should go well. Devil's River took advantage of a handy weight to score over course and distance two starts ago. He followed that up with a good run when finding the one just too good under this revised mark and he looks certain to run his race again. Furze Hill has plenty to find on the one we've just mentioned after their meeting last time but Aiden Coleman's mount knows his way around this track and may keep on for a place. On the pick of his hurdles form Keyneema looks well weighted and this Kayf Tara gelding should put in a decent bid but still looking well treated Mr Ironman is taken to follow up.
Good Parade (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, effort approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 11th of 12, 32l behind Synonymy (10-6) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Sep.
Tooka 8-1 (10-13) Led, blundered 11th, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, well behind Mr Prickle (10-12) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.
Keyneema 11-2 (10-5) In touch, lost place after 6th, no danger after, 5th of 11, 11l behind Jordan's Light (10-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Devils River (IRE) 9-2 (10-8) Led to 2nd, not fluent 4th, struggling approaching 2 out, left 3rd last, no chance with winner but took 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 11, 23l behind Desperate Dex (10-0) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Furze Hill (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Prominent, mistake 8th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 11, 19l behind Devils River (11-1) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Nov.
Ronald Jack (FR) 8-1 (10-8) Close up, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Jacarado (10-3) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct, 7 ran.
Ballymorn (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Behind, tailed off 9th, ridden into poor 3rd after 13th, tailed off, 3rd of 12, well behind The Snail (11-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Isaac Butt (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) In rear, mistake 2nd, reminder after 4th, behind 7th, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Devils River (11-1) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Mr Ironman 11-2 (10-0) Held up, headway 8th, went 6 lengths 2nd 2 out, stayed on under pressure to lead last strides, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov beating Alderbrook Girl (10-6) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Mad Professor (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 9th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, hampered last, 6th of 14, 37l behind R'Cam (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gd in Nov.
