headway on outside chasing leaders 3rd, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and weakened between last 2
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, went 2nd at the last, no extra in 3rd towards finish
held up and behind, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
chased leaders on inside, weakened before the last
always towards rear, never a factor
led, pushed along before 3 out, headed before the last, weakened run-in
virtually refused to race, tailed off and pulled up going out on final circuit
chased leaders, weakening when mistake 4 out, soon hung badly left and behind, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd going well next, led before dived at last, kept on well run-in
raced keenly, held up towards rear, never involved
raced keenly, mostly chased leader, not fluent 2nd, lost 2nd and weakened 2 out
pulled hard towards rear, closer chasing leaders before 4 out, weakened after 4 out, tailed off when mistake next
NonRunner
Former Cheltenham Festival winner Flying Tiger is undoubtedly well treated nowadays but is on a long losing run and is probably at his best on slightly quicker ground. Newtown Boy and ROBINSHILL (NAP) are both recent winners over fences. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge reverts to hurdles on the same 7lb lower mark off which he won this in 2016 so has outstanding claims again. The four-year-old Flegmatik easily landed the odds here last season and makes his handicap debut while Dyliev did well last term, winning three times. Fransham and Aristo Du Plessis have also won here but the former would have preferred a sound surface and the latter usually needs a run to put him straight.
Lucky Icon (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Led until after normal 4 out, soon beaten, 7th of 10, 26 1/4l behind Antunes (10-11) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Flying Tiger (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, took keen hold, jinked and unseated rider bend after 2nd, at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Flegmatik (FR) 6-4fav (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd at 3rd, 2 lengths down when went right 2 out, lost 2nd at the last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 15, 7l behind Song For Someone (11-10) at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Feb.
Newtown Boy (IRE) Evensjfav (11-4) Jumped right at times, made most, not fluent 3rd, joined 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on to assert flat, driven out, won at Kelso 2m 1f (4) gd in Sep beating An Fear Ciuin (11-4) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
Zig Zag (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 13th of 14, dist behind Wells De Lune (11-6) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Aristo Du Plessis (FR) 6-1 (11-3) Tracked clear leader, took closer order 4th, under pressure 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 19 1/4l behind Cornerstone Lad (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Ninepointsixthree 8-1 (10-9) Refused to race, at Newcastle 2m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Persian Delight 10-11fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, soon ridden, held from before 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 3, 2 1/2l behind Valhalla (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Fransham 14-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 14th of 15, dist behind Grapevine (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Jul.
Dyliev (FR) 3-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, led 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and caught post, 2nd of 5, shd behind Capone (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Robinshill (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Led until 1st, chased leader, led 7th, clear from 2 out, easily, won at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Field Exhibition (12-5) by 7l, 6 ran.
Ilaya (FR) 9-4fav (10-5) Took keen hold, headway 2nd, hit 3rd, led 4th to 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 12, dist behind Kingrullah (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn (5) sft in Oct.
True Romance (IRE) 4-1fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, effort 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, no impression in 4th final furlong, 4th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Dreams And Visions (9-4) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
