held up towards rear, hit 12th, always behind
led to 2nd, led 6th to 8th, chased leader, led last, headed towards finish
held up, headway 6th, hit 13th, weakened 15th, pulled up before next
held up, struggling 12th, 6th when pulled up before 17th
held up in rear, headway 14th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure towards finish
held up in rear, headway 14th, weakened 3 out
prominent, ridden 8th, weakened 13th, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 10th, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, led 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, rallied to lead again towards finish
led 2nd, headed and reminders 6th, jumped slowly and dropped rear 8th, tailed off after 14th
Nonrunner
Charlie Mann's TARQUINIUS showed no signs of stopping when successful at Wincanton last month and the six-year-old can follow up under a 5lb higher mark today, getting the vote ahead of Dusty Dane and Quazy de Joie. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding showed improved form when a close third under testing conditions at Lingfield last time and he has to be respected racing off a just a 2lb higher mark today. Mistress Nell was well held on his recent reappearance and looks best watched with a bigger danger likely to come from The Gangerman. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding made an encouraging return when a close third behind David Pipe's Peut Etre Sivola at Fontwell last month and he can race off a 1lb lower mark here so has to be strongly considered. Stable companion Ammunition is capable but one win from 20 career starts tells its own story and of more interest may be Dusty Dane. Bill Turner's gelding has a similarly poor strike rate but stays well and has slipped to a fair mark so cannot be discounted. Preference though is for Charlie Mann's Tarquinius, who is open to improvement after just six starts and he can follow up his recent Wincanton success.
Mistress Nell 7-1 (10-7) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 27l behind That's Rhythm (11-8) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Tarquinius (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, left in narrow lead 17th, made rest, joined 3 out, 2 lengths clear and in command last, kept on strongly, won at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov beating Treasulier (10-5) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Dusty Dane (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) In touch, tracked leader 4th, outpaced when lost 2nd 2 out, soon no extra, 3rd of 8, 20l behind Fortification (11-7) at Hereford 3m 1f am hcp ch 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
The Gangerman (IRE) 9-2fav (9-10) Behind, driven along from 15th, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on to chase winner and 3 lengths down when hit last, no extra flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Peut Etre Sivola (10-0) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
Quazy de Joie (FR) 11-2 (11-10) Held up in last pair, steady headway to track leading trio after 4 out, 3rd and effort next, soon challenging, stayed on same pace from last, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Fine Parchment (11-2) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Ammunition (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) In touch, headway to chase leaders 7th, challenged, mistake 11th, weakened next, 8th of 15, 20l behind Nikos Extra (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Gritti Palace (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) In touch, lost place 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Supreme Keano (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan, 18 ran.
Sir Peter (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Chased leaders to 7th, tailed off, 8th of 14, well behind The Great Alfie (11-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Fine By Me (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, left 3rd at 17th, until 4 out, weakened soon after, 4th of 9, 21l behind Tarquinius (11-5) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Woodlands Genpower (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 7th to 8th, struggling after 4 out, relegated to 4th before 2 out, went 3rd last, 3rd of 9, 31l behind Master Overseer (11-11) at Towcester 3m hcp 0-100 (4) sft in Nov.
Herecomestanley 20-1 (10-10) Held up, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden and no impression, 5th of 6, 38l behind Strawberry (11-12) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Alfadora 17-2 (9-11) Behind when mistake and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Shillingstone (11-3) at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 9 ran.
