disputed 2nd on inside, lost place briefly 10th, stumbled 12th, outpaced 4 out, ridden to chase leading pair after next, kept on same pace under pressure from 2 out, no impression
held up in touch on outside, blundered 3rd, joined leader 13th, led narrowly 2 out, ridden and stayed on well to go clear flat
disputed 2nd, lost place 13th, outpaced 4 out, weakened before 2 out
led and set slow pace, jumped slowly 1st, mistake 3rd, joined 13th, headed narrowly 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression with winner flat, weakened and lost 2 places towards finish
raced keenly, in touch on outside, outpaced in 4th when hit 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
Nonrunner
Stoney's Treasure travels strongly in his races but doesn't find a great deal when push comes to shove and it's questionable whether Robert Thornton will be able to hang on to him long enough to break his duck over fences in this small field. Supreme Plan has become expensive to follow and was pulled up when favourite at Uttoxeter last month but it may be too soon to write off The Old Pretender, who had decent form over hurdles a couple of years ago and probably needed the run when failing to justify market support over 2m5f here in November. Tafika is improving but only won a modest maiden chase at Leicester earlier this month and is likely to find this tougher so the vote goes to THE FERBANE MAN. Tim Vaughan's charge got outpaced when only fourth at Huntingdon last time but conditions here will be more to his taste and he's already run well on several occasions over hurdles and fences in this grade.
Federstar (GER) 10-1 (10-7) Raced in rear but in touch, under pressure 4 out, headway after 2 out, stayed on to go remote 3rd after last, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 7, 21l behind Three Chords (10-12) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Stoney's Treasure 11-8fav (11-10) Headway to go close up 5th, left 3rd and slightly hampered 9th, chased leader next, narrow lead 4 out until stumbled badly and headed next, stayed challenging and every chance 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Peplum (11-11) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Supreme Plan (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Prominent, hit 11th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Master d'Or (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan, 9 ran.
Tafika 4-6fav (11-0) Prominent, led 3rd until after 4th, led 10th until after 14th, led 4 out, shaken up and readily came clear flat, won at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (5) gd beating No Tears (11-0) by 9l, 7 ran.
The Ferbane Man (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Led briefly 3rd, led 5th until 6th, tracked leader until after 3 out, 4th and weakening when mistake 2 out, 4th of 8, 28l behind Squadron (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gs.
The Old Pretender (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) In touch, hit 3 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 17, 19l behind Habbie Simpson (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
