midfield, badly hampered and brought down 9th
chased leaders, led after 9th, ridden and headed approaching last, rallied well to lead again flat, just held on
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden before next, led approaching last, headed flat, stayed on well, just held by winner
led, mistake 5th, headed after 9th, weakened quickly before 3 out
midfield, chased leaders 5th, fell 9th
prominent, pushed along before 3 out, soon faded
midfield, took closer order 9th, went second approaching 3 out, ridden and lost second before next, no extra last
midfield, pushed along 9th, pulled up before 3 out
took keen hold, held up in rear, headway and pushed along before 3 out, kept on from 2 out
Withdrawn
NonRunner
Ashington has won four times over hurdles but his latest second at Leicester came in a chase and he was behind Oscar Thyne at Cheltenham earlier. The latter ran well that day considering he’d been off the track for quite a while. Ayr third Could Be Trouble is on a decent mark but FOSTER’SISLAND was third here last month, ahead of Rafferty's Return, before not really getting the run of the race at Aintree – he’s been dropped 2lb since. Zabeel Champion had a pipe-opener at Chepstow in the autumn and David Pipe will surely find a race for Thanksforthehelp on this side of the Irish Sea. Tiger Jet has won two of his last three but may have been flattered by his victory in a Class 2 at Newcastle last time. One True King needs some help from the handicapper.
Ashington 4-1 (11-6) Held up in touch behind leaders, outpaced before 2 out, rallied flat, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Bold Endeavour (12-0) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) gf in Dec.
Rafferty's Return 9-2 (11-12) Led, headed before 3rd, disputed lead after 5th, led 7th, disputed lead next, pushed along and headed before 2 out, held when blundered last, eased flat, 9th of 12, 18 1/4l behind Iroko (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Foster'sisland 25-1 (10-9) Mid-division, switched right before 2 out, unable to make any impression, well beaten before last, 8th of 13, 18 3/4l behind Romeo Brown (10-8) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Ballycallan Fame (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Led, headed before 7th, weakened quickly, pulled up before 8th, at Doncaster 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Could Be Trouble (IRE) 11-4 (12-1) Tracked leaders out wide, pushed along and outpaced home turn, 3rd of 5, 5 1/4l behind Eternally Yours (11-10) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Zabeel Champion 16-1 (10-3) Close up, hit 5 out and pecked on landing, faded gradually from 2 out, 8th of 10, 18 1/4l behind Knappers Hill (11-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Thanksforthehelp (FR) 7-2fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, mistake 3 out, improved to dispute lead entering straight, ridden approaching last, headed after last, 3rd inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 24, 2 1/2l behind Life In The Park (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Benny's Oscar (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Mid-division, lost position and ridden after 4 out, tailed off, 11th of 12, dist behind Top Of The Bill (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Tiger Jet (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Midfield, not fluent 4 out and dropped to last, headway to lead 2 out, ridden and mistake last, briefly headed run-in, kept on gamely to lead near finish, won at Newcastle 2m 6f (2) gs in Nov beating Kidman (11-0) by hd, 4 ran.
Oscar Thyne (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Off the pace towards rear, headway chasing leaders 2 out, stayed on run-in, went never nearer 3rd final strides, 3rd of 18, 5l behind Sweet Will (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
One True King (IRE) 17-2 (12-1) Held up on inner, pushed along and weakened from 5 out, 5th of 7, dist behind Laskalin (11-12) at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
