handy early, held up, headway 8th, mistake 10th, went 2nd 12th, led after 4 out, clear approaching last, easily
raced keenly, prominent, led 2nd, headed after 4 out, eased when beaten approaching last
held up, jumped slowly 2nd and 3rd, pushed along 8th, lost touch next, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway after 11th, hit 12th, weakening when blundered badly 13th, tailed off
led to 2nd then remained handy, mistakes 8th and 10th, ridden approaching 12th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened
chased leader until approaching 2nd, in touch after, jumped slowly 3rd, weakened 10th, tailed off
always behind, tailed off from 9th
held up in rear, headway 11th, ridden 14th, weakened after 4 out
held up in rear, headway when hit 11th, weakened after 14th
handy when mistake 1st, mid-division after, struggling from 12th
chased leaders, ridden after 11th, went 2nd briefly before next, weakened after 4 out
Oakfield Legend was very impressive when winning at Taunton last time but on this ground is opposed today with Ironside, who can continue Colin Tizzard's great run of form. Ironside relishes this sort of trip and soft ground and won at Chepstow last year when conditions were in his favour. He went in again off a similar mark to that at Plumpton last time and has to be taken very seriously despite a siusequent rise. Oakfield Legend won by nine lengths last time and was eased down, but he has never won on soft ground and is usually tried only on a sound surface, so he could be in trouble here. A better proposition may be Ibberton, from another in-form yard of the Alners. However, he has gone up 12lb for winning at Chepstow last month and this will be pretty tough going after that, and he too has yet to win on soft. Super Lord makes his reappearance here and is another yet to prove himself on the ground, though he does have ability, but we prefer Ironside to score.
Super Lord (IRE) 5-2 (11-3) With leaders, led 14th, headed 2 out, led again last, stayed on well, won at Bangor 3m beg chs (4) gd in Mar beating Windy Hills (11-3) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Oakfield Legend 20-1 (11-5) Led 4th, made rest, drew clear from 4 out, easily, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Nov beating Croc An Oir (11-8) by 9l, 16 ran.
Passenger Omar (IRE) 11-4fav (10-12) Behind and not travelling well, headway after 11th, led approaching 4 out, headed 3 out, beaten 2 out, tired and hung left between last 2, hung right before refusing last refused 3 out in race won by Bannister Lane (10-2) at Uttoxeter.
Super Judge (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Held up, in 6th and in touch when blundered unseated rider at the 16th in race won by Keenan's Future (11-9) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd, 8 ran.
Julius (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Held up, mistake 6th, ridden and no response 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 9, well behind Victor Daly (10-6) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.
Ironside (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Led, headed approaching 7th, left in lead 8th, headed 12th, led again 4 out, clear when mistake 2 out, kept on, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft beating Mistress Nell (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Gatsby (IRE) 28-1 (10-2) Towards rear, struggling 14th, tailed off when pulled up at the 19th in race won by Naunton Brook (10-5) at Hexham 4m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov '06, 12 ran.
Ibberton 33-1 (10-4) Mid-division, mistake 8th, headway 12th, went 2nd 5 out, led soon after 2 out, stayed on strongly, ridden out, won at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov beating Fine By Me (10-7) by 5l, 14 ran.
Foly Pleasant (FR) 25-1 (11-9) Jumped left 1st, tracked leaders, mistakes 6th, hampered and unseated rider at the 9th in race won by San Luca (9-13) at Towcester 3m cnd hcp chs (5) gs, 12 ran.
Blunham Hill (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Prominent, ridden approaching 13th, behind from 17th, 7th of 9, well behind Trust Fund (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Hazeljack 8-1 (9-12) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 5 out, no further impression, 4th of 9, 15l behind Ironside (10-10) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
