led, jumped right 3rd, jumped right 4th, soon headed, weakened 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
took keen hold, held up, some headway approaching 5th, soon no impression
held up towards rear, struggling 6th, stayed on flat, took moderate 4th last strides
prominent, led after 4th, headed 3 out, weakened last
held up in rear, headway 5th, mistake 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, no impression on winner
in touch, raced keenly, went 2nd approaching 5th, led 3 out, in command 2 out, ran on well
prominent, stumbled 3rd, ridden approaching 5th, not fluent 7th, weakened 4 out
pressed leader until approaching 4th, soon weakened quickly, pulled up after 4th
MONGORNO may be able to take advantage of the handicapper's leniency and confine Russian Flag to the runner up's berth once again; Amble Forge makes most appeal of the remainder. Brave Villa heads the weights and he is back on the mark from which he won over course and distance in 2006. He's been struggling for form but is worth noting in the betting given that he's proven track form under similar conditions. Amble Forge has risen a fair way in the weights this season but has scored under similar conditions and been given a small break since disappointing at Wincanton on Boxing Day. Russian Flag deserves to win and doesn't appear to have done anything wrong in particular but his sequence of placed efforts is offputting. In light of that, it may be worth siding with Mongorno who was just two lengths behind Russian Flag on Boxing Day. He only has a 2lb swing in the weights and was a long way behind Amble Forge on heavy ground at Bangor in November but has shown enough potential to think that he can win a race like this. He has shown form on testing ground in France, the stable's horses are running pretty well so we'll take Mongorno to come home in front.
Brave Villa (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, mistake 3rd, weakened 8th, mistake 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Lorient Express (11-4) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Mr Prickle (IRE) 18-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, lost place 10th, soon weakened, 13th of 15, well behind Nirvana Swing (11-6) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Anglican (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Always behind and mistakes, weakened 12th and pulled up 3 out in race won by King Barry (11-8) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Russian Flag (FR) 4-1fav (10-11) Chased leaders, challenged from 4 out, chased winner 3 out, ridden approaching last, held flat, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Rathmulen (10-12) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Mongorno (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, mistake 7th, 7th when hit and hampered 2 out, stayed on approaching last, switched left after flat, soon went 3rd, nearest finish, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Laharna (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec.
Amble Forge (IRE) 2-1 (11-4) Held up, jumped slowly and went left from 6th, headway from 9th, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, jumped badly left from 3 out, 3rd of 5, 34l behind Lorient Express (11-13) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Incorporation 3-1jt-fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 4th, weakened from 6th, 5th of 7, 31l behind Country Escape (11-9) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Aug.
Colliers Court 28-1 (10-13) Led until headed 6th, ridden after 5 out, and soon beaten, 9th of 10, well behind Watch My Back (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
