prominent, led 2nd, soon headed, led after 5th, headed 7th, ridden and looked awkward after 12th, lost place 15th, behind before 16th, soon pulled up
prominent until 3rd, tracked leaders, not fluent 14th, outpaced 18th, struggling from 4 out, weakened into 4th flat
led until 2nd, soon led again, headed after 5th, outpaced 18th, struggling from 4 out, went 3rd flat, no impression on front pair
chased leaders, mistake 12th, challenegd 17th, led after 3 out, idled before last, driven out
jumped right 1st, soon chasing leaders, closed before 6th, led next, headed after 3 out, 2 lengths down when hit last, held after, stayed on
held up, mistake 7th, in touch when not fluent 13th, ridden 16th, struggling 18th, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, often wide, in touch after 15th, ridden and lost place before next, behind 17th, pulled up after
Stoney's Treasure looked a promising staying chaser in 2011 but has only run twice in the past three years. Ruapehu won two handicaps in this grade in very impressive fashion before falling at Newbury though he's shot up a massive 19lb for his latest victory. GEORGIAN KING (NAP) scored at Towcester then stayed on powerfully to score over 3m2f here last month and, as the longer trip will prove no problem, he can complete a hat-trick. Presence Felt walked over at Wetherby in October and though twice finishing runner-up subsequently has actually gone down in the weights though he was beaten a long way at Carlisle last time. Incentivise generally jumps well and stays extreme distances so has to be considered despite a moderate effort at Fontwell. Prospective punters would be taking a chance with Barton Gift's jumping but he's perfectly capable of winning this if completing the course.
Ruapehu (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Led until 8th, chased leader, hit 9th and lost 2nd, 2nd again next, blundered and unseated rider 12th, in a race won by Woodford County (11-5) at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 5 ran.
Georgian King 12-1 (10-13) Tracked clear pair, headway 4 out, went 2nd after next, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead flat, kept on, won at Warwick 3m 2f cond hcap ch (4) gs in Nov beating Silver Man (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Viking Blond (FR) 20-1 (10-9) Always in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Gorgehous Lliege (10-5) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov, 9 ran.
Incentivise (IRE) 11-2 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway 12th, chased leaders approaching next, outpaced when hampered 17th, stayed on into poor 3rd before 2 out, 3rd of 9, 23l behind Gorgehous Lliege (10-5) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
Barton Gift 7-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 10th, weakened and pulled up before next, in a race won by Russe Blanc (10-11) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov, 7 ran.
Presence Felt (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) In rear, jumped left 4th, headway before 9th to chase leaders, pushed along after 5 out, went 3rd 4 out, chased winner from last, no impression, 2nd of 5, 19l behind Shouldavboughtgold (11-8) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Handsome Buddy (IRE) 6-1 (10-4) Slowly away, behind, struggling 15th, plugged on to take remote 4th last, no chance with leaders, 4th of 7, 36l behind Georgian King (10-13) at Warwick 3m 2f cond hcap ch (4) gs in Nov.
Stoney's Treasure 9-2 (11-2) Held up in last pair, good headway to get in behind leaders 12th, weakened 14th, behind and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Brackloon High (10-9) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan '13, 9 ran.
