towards rear, slow 7th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, lost place before 3rd, ridden 5th, headway after next, not fluent 8th, struggling next, behind when mistake 4 out, rallied after 2 out, went 3rd last, no impression
led after 1st, headed 5th, stayed prominent, mistake 4 out, lost 2nd next, weakened 2 out
led early, tracked leaders, slow 2nd, outpaced after 8th, well beaten before 4 out
held up, not fluent 1st, mistake 4th, ridden and outpaced after 8th, 4th from next, well beaten after 3 out
in rear, struggling 8th, pulled up before 4 out
soon led, headed after 1st, tracked leaders, 2nd again 3 out, closed approaching last, led flat, stayed on
prominent, led 5th, 4 lengths clear 3 out, reduced lead last, headed flat, stayed on
Special Wells has won twice around here including on heavy going. He hasn't been in the best of form but it would be no surprise to see a revival. MAJOR HINDRANCE has been raised 8lb for a battling victory on testing ground at Exeter but that was only his fourth start over fences so there should be more to come and he gets the vote. Hargam won a couple of races over hurdles for Nicky Henderson but hasn't shown much over fences and jumped poorly at Aintree last time. Fergal Mael Duin had been racing in better company before unseating his rider when in touch at Fontwell. He's dropped to a fair mark and is respected while Ckalco Des Loges can't have been right at Hereford last week as he'd made a promising debut over fences at Huntingdon.
Hargam (FR) 22-1 (11-3) Held up on outside, headway 8th, lost place when not fluent next, hampered 10th, behind next, mistake 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Major Hindrance (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Pressed leader, mistake 3rd, led well before 3 out (normal 4 out), 4 lengths ahead last, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Le Boizelo (12-3) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
West Wizard (FR) 14-1 (12-0) Chased leaders and kept wide, went left at times, mistake 1st, close up from 12th until 3 out, weakened from next, 5th of 8, dist behind Whiskey Chaser (11-1) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Special Wells 7-2 (12-0) Tracked leader, led 7 out, headed 6 out, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 6, 18 1/4l behind Newberry New (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Fergal Mael Duin 11-4 (11-9) With leader, led 5th, headed 6 out, close up fell 4 out, at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Ckalco Des Loges (FR) 4-1 (11-11) Behind, not fluent 3rd, tailed off when jumped left 8th and 9th, pulled up before 3 out, at Hereford 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Granville Island (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) In rear, headway 6 out, challenged 4 out, every chance 2 out, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 6, 11l behind Newberry New (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Timon's Tara 5-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 10th, not fluent 4 out, soon outpaced, well held in modest 4th from 2 out, 4th of 7, 18 1/4l behind Newberry New (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
