chased leaders, lost place 4th, mistake 12th, well behind 14th
mid-division, closed 4th, mistake and lost place 5th, mistake 7th, ridden and struggling from 15th, well held 2 out, ran on flat
chased leader until after 10th, went 2nd again 13th until 16th, weakened 2 out
prominent until 3rd, chased leaders, ridden 12th, weakened after next, pulled up before 14th
towards rear, headway 14th, ridden 15th, went 2nd and mistake last, no impression on winner
always behind
led, not fluent 15th or 4 out, headed after next, weakened flat
towards rear, headway after 13th, mistake 16th, went 3rd flat, no impression on winner
always handy, led after 3 out, shaken up flat, soon clear, easily
Broadclyst has been denied a run on a couple of occasions by the weather since finishing a close second to Worthy Farm at Wincanton when the disappointing Fleminport, now tried in cheekpieces, was behind. But he has a big weight to carry and is giving 31lb, including Alex Thorne’s allowance, to the hat-trick seeking High Counsel. FROM THE HEART (NAP) looks like he’s going to make a better chaser than hurdler and he showed battling qualities to score at Taunton last month. There should be more to come so he’s fancied to shrug off a 7lb rise. Goodnight Charlie should do better in this lower grade and veteran Goodtoknow was showing signs of life in the autumn. Irish Octave could also figure but fellow course winner Coopers Square needs to rediscover his best form.
Broadclyst (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Soon in touch, ridden into 2nd before 3 out, challenged between last 2, kept on and every chance flat, just held, 2nd of 11, nk behind Worthy Farm (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Fleminport (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Mid-division, not fluent and lost place 13th, never going pace to get back on terms, 5th of 11, 16 1/4l behind Worthy Farm (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Goodnight Charlie 33-1 (10-0) Chased leader after 2nd until before 16th, soon weakened, pulled up after 3 out, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Goodtoknow 11-4 (11-12) Jumped right, led until 3rd, led next, headed 6th, chased winner after, reminders after 9th, slow 13th, no impression before 4 out, lost 2nd after 3 out, 3rd of 4, 30l behind Bob Ford (11-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Lord In Red (GER) 12-1 (11-11) Prominent to 11th, pushed along and behind when bumped after 13th, lost touch and pulled up after 3 out, at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Irish Octave (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 12th, went 5th 18th, never in contention and well beaten when fell 2 out, at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Coopers Square (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Chasing leaders when mistake and lost place 1st, never on terms after, behind and losing touch 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 12th, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
From The Heart (IRE) 4-1fav (11-6) Jumped left at times, chased leaders, led and disputed from 4th, joined 3 out, narrowly headed between last 2, rallied gamely under pressure to lead again run-in, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Troed Y Melin (10-10) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
High Counsel (IRE) 7-2jfav (10-0) Held up in last trio, headway chasing leaders before 10th, led 3 out until before 2 out, led again 2 out, pressed run-in, found bit extra towards finish, won at Warwick 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Troubled Soul (11-4) by 1l, 8 ran.
