led to 1st, prominent, led after 3 out, ridden and joined when left with momentum and from rivals error, 3 lengths up flat, just held on
held up, switched right and closed before 5th, joined winner when dived at 2 out and lost momentum, held after, lost 2nd towards finish
led 2nd, headed after 3 out, no extra from 2 out
held up behind leaders, 3rd and unable to quicken 2 out, soon switched right, wandered into last, stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish, finished well, just held
led 1st until 2nd, prominent, lost place before 5th, soon well beaten
NonRunner
Most of these go handicapping for the first time including dual novice winner Barrichello, who failed to land the odds at Bangor last time though is reunited with winning partner Brian Hughes today. Lydford bids for a hat-trick and is another to consider but WASHINGTON may edge this. The latter separated a couple of subsequent winners when third in a novices' race at Cheltenham last month and gets the vote on that form. Dual bumper winner Good Risk At All has been slightly disappointing in both starts over timber though is not out of this either in a tight contest. River Bray was engaged at Taunton yesterday.
Barrichello 1-5fav (11-12) Whip round start and dropped to rear, headway to lead 2nd (normal 3rd), headed next, ridden to lead again omitted 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 4l behind Chris Cool (10-12) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
Washington 11-5 (11-4) Wore hood to post, raced keenly and held up in rear, good headway on inside before the last, ridden and every chance run-in, weakened into 3rd inside final 100 yards, 3rd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Datsalrightgino (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (3) gd in Dec.
Lydford 9-4 (11-5) Tracked leader, came to lead and mistake 2 out, kept on after final hurdle, won gamely, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec beating Charlie's Glance (10-12) by 3l, 8 ran.
Good Risk At All (FR) 2-1 (11-4) Not always fluent, disputing lead to 1st, chased leaders, went 2nd next, no impression on winner from 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Jonbon (11-4) at Newbury 2m mdn (3) gs in Nov.
Heronord (FR) 13-8fav (11-0) Held up in 4th, closed stands side 3 out, every chance when bad mistake 2 out, not recover, last of 5, 6 3/4l behind Shiroccan Roll (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
River Bray (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leader until 2nd, went 2nd again 5th until before 3 out, weakened before next, last of 7, dist behind Mack The Man (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
