chased leader, led after 9th, headed 10th, upsides 11th, lost place and ridden after 13th, chased leader 3 out, close up 2 out, could not match winner from last
held up in midfield, headway before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, close up 2 out, weakened last
prominent, close up 12th, ridden and weakened when pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, headway when not fluent 10th, lost ground and pushed along 11th, left in distant 4th 4 out, plugged on
led, not fluent 8th, headed briefly after 9th, led again 10th, joined 11th, regained lead 12th, joined before 4 out where left in front, ridden before 3 out, narrow advantage 2 out, stayed on dourly from last
midfield, relegated towards rear 2nd, pushed along after 7th, driven after 9th, lost ground and pulled up before 10th
held up in rear, not fluent 12th and driven, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
midfield, hit 4th and lost place, in rear 5th, reminders after 8th, ridden after 11th, lost touch after 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
restrained towards rear, midfield 5th, not fluent 12th, pressed leader 5 out, upsides when fell 4 out
NonRunner
Good Boy Bobby won over a shorter trip here in October but handled the step up 3m in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle when just touched off by Aye Right. Takingrisks was well behind that day and looks held. LAKE VIEW LAD is in the veteran stage now but made a promising return at Haydock. He won this 2018 and was third behind Top Ville Ben two years ago so another bold bid is expected. The latter has a bit to prove at present while Debece faces a stiff task following a lay-off but Windsor Avenue’s second at Bangor has been franked. Cloudy Glen is a strong stayer but was probably a fortunate winner of the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury and has been raised 10lb. Silver Hallmark has scope over this longer trip and Empire Steel could also go well with a run at Haydock under his belt.
Lord Du Mesnil (FR) 33-1 (11-3) Front mid-division, gradually lost place and ridden and weakened 4 out, soon pulled up, at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Top Ville Ben (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Led, headed 7th (water), remained close up, fell 12th, at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Cloudy Glen (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Handy, led home turn, pressed 4 out, left in clear lead after 4 out, shaken up before 2 out, pressed and ridden before last, stayed on well, always doing enough, won at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov beating Fiddlerontheroof (11-4) by 1/2l, 21 ran.
Lake View Lad (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Prominent until 1st, chased leaders, not fluent 4 out, disputing 2nd 4 out, 3rd and held last, one pace, 3rd of 11, 8 1/2l behind Blaklion (10-7) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Good Boy Bobby (IRE) 9-2fav (10-9) Prominent, led 9th, mistake 14th, 3 lengths off winner 2 out, closed from last, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 12, hd behind Aye Right (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Takingrisks (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Jumped right at times, in touch in mid-division, not fluent 7th, effort 12th, weakened from 14th, 6th of 12, 31 1/4l behind Aye Right (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Silver Hallmark 17-2 (11-8) In touch on outer, pushed along and outpaced 3 out, stayed on one pace thereafter, 4th of 6, 10 1/4l behind Fiddlerontheroof (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Oct.
Windsor Avenue (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) In touch, headway 9th, ridden 2 out, chased clear winner next, kept on one pace, 2nd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Snow Leopardess (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Empire Steel (IRE) 11-4 (11-9) Mid-division, pressed leaders 4 out, ridden and every chance before 2 out, kept on well but held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Strictlyadancer (10-5) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Debece 2-1fav (11-7) Mostly jumped well, bit keen, tracked leaders, went 2nd 3rd, led 9th, went clear 12th, mistake and reduced lead 2 out, ridden between last 2, headed last, weakened run-in, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Fortescue (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
