tended to jump left, held up in rear, headway 4 out, kept on without challenging leaders from 3 out
midfield, smooth headway to chase leaders 4 out, cruised into lead before 2 out, not fluent last, headed flat, stayed on
in rear, losing touch 8th, ridden before 4 out, tailed off before 3 out
midfield, headway to press leaders 4 out, ridden to lead narrowly 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, steady headway 7th, ridden in 3rd after 2 out, chased leader last, driven to lead flat, stayed on well
prominent, ridden after 4 out, weakened before 3 out
midfield, lost place 8th, towards rear 4 out, well beaten 3 out
prominent, led 2nd, headed 4th, lost place after 4 out, ridden and weakened from 3 out
midfield, lost ground quickly before 7th, pulled up before 8th
led, headed 2nd, led 4th, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, well beaten when pulled up before last
Ask Paddington won off a higher mark at Hexham earlier this year. Fly Smart is a potential fly in the ointment having a first run for Venetia Williams as he only had a couple of runs in maidens for Willie Mullins but UNEXPECTED PARTY (NAP) looks the one to beat. An easy winner over course and distance in October, he couldn’t quite peg back Gowel Road at Cheltenham subsequently but he’s clearly progressing so can defy a further 4lb rise. The Brimming Water is another with scope and could make the frame having got bogged down in the mud last time at Haydock.
Severance 28-1 (11-3) Pulled hard towards rear, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, weakened quickly between last two, 9th of 11, 25 3/4l behind Gowel Road (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Unexpected Party (FR) 3-1fav (10-10) Held up off the pace in last pair, good headway out wide and hit 6th, rallied approaching 3 out, travelling well after next, 4 lengths down and outpaced before the last, hung left and stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Gowel Road (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Ask Paddington (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, went prominent 5th, tracked leaders before omitted 3 out, ridden after omitted 2 out, gradually faded, 6th of 14, 23 3/4l behind Cobblers Dream (10-8) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Into Overdrive 10-1 (11-10) Prominent, joined leaders 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, gradually faded, 5th of 7, 16 3/4l behind Sultans Pride (11-6) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
The Brimming Water (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway after 4 out, beaten 2 out, plugged on, 5th of 11, 14l behind Celebre D'Allen (11-5) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Silva Eclipse 25-1 (10-6) Mid-division, towards rear and struggling after 10th, soon behind, tailed off next, pulled up before 4 out, at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Perfect Man (IRE) 28-1 (10-3) Towards rear, never in contention, 7th of 10, 28 3/4l behind Flight Deck (11-2) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
The Delray Munky 66-1 (11-11) In rear, ridden and some headway 2 out, never nearer, 6th of 10, 20 1/2l behind Diamond State (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Fly Smart (FR) 2-1fav (12-0) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 4th and no impression after 3 out, soon no extra, eased before next, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Fortune Street (12-0) at Wexford 2m 4f mdn Good - Yielding in Apr.
Desaray Girl (FR) 5-1 (12-7) Led, headed home turn, weakened thereafter, 5th of 11, 21 1/4l behind Cailin Dearg (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
