held up in 4th, progress to chase winner approaching 11th, closed 4 out, 3 lenghts down last, no impression flat
held up towards rear, headway approaching 11th, mistake 12th, soon outpaced, weakened after 4 out, lost 3rd flat
made all, clear 10th until approaching 4 out, ridden 3 out, stayed on gamely
prominent, not fluent 5th, mistakes 7th and 8th, chased winner before 9th until ridden approaching 11th, 5th when pulled up before 12th
pressed winner until after 8th, ridden 11th, weakened after next
towards rear, pecked 1st, not fluent and reminders 7th, last and behind next, pulled up before 9th
held up in last, took keen hold, not fluent 7th, went remote 4th 4 out, went 3rd flat
It's probably safe to leave Action Hawk and Delgany Gunner, both a long way out of the handicap, out of calculations but the others appear closely matched. Handtheprizeover was beaten 18 lengths by Irish Guard over a shorter trip at Towcester last time but would have probably finished closer had he not been hampered. Pacha D'Oudairies, Mister Wiseman and Innominate are all still awaiting a first win over fences but the trio have shown signs of ability. The latter is proven on heavy ground so may be the pick today but we fancy this test could spark a return to form for FESTIVAL DREAMS, who has an excellent record at this track and hasn't been disgraced since scoring over 3m here in October off a 5lb lower mark.
Pacha D'Oudairies (FR) 17-2 (11-12) Held up behind in touch, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace under pressure from next, never troubled leaders, 4th of 8, 9l behind Silver Dollars (10-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Handtheprizeover 9-4fav (11-3) Chased leaders, mistake and hampered 5th, lost several places, closed approaching 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 18l behind Irish Guard (11-1) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Mister Wiseman 9-2fav (10-12) Held up mid-division on outside, ridden 13th, outpaced when mistake 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Major Malarkey (11-11) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Festival Dreams 16-1 (10-8) With leader, led 4th, blundered badly 4 out, soon ridden, headed after 2 out, weakened flat, lost 3rd post, 4th of 12, 11l behind Brenin Cwmtudu (10-8) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Innominate (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Led to 2nd, tracked leader, hit 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 7, 21l behind Border Reiver (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Action Hawk (GER) 200-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, ridden and weakened well before 3 out, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Featherbed Lane (11-5) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Delgany Gunner 4-1fav (9-7) Chased leaders, led 3rd until 13th, lost 2nd next, weakened to 4th after 4 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, 30l behind Miss Fleur (11-7) at Lingfield 3m nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Nov.
