disputed lead until after 5th, reminders before next, lost place 8th, soon weakened and behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up behind in touch, mistake 4th, headway after 8th, went 2nd and challenged before 4 out, soon ridden, outpaced next, rallied and every chance on inside when not fluent last, no extra flat
tracked leaders, lost place when mistake 6th, lost touch, 8th, tailed off when pulled up before last
tracked leaders, reminder after 4th, lost place 6th, plugged on from 3 out, never troubled leaders
tracked leaders, outpaced in 3rd before 4 out, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before last
with leaders on outside, hit 4th, led after next, ridden and hard pressed from 4 out, headed narrowly after last, rallied to regain lead near finish
made most to after 5th, reminders before next, lost place 8th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders on outside, headway to join winner 7th, ridden and outpaced in 4th before 4 out, rallied 2 out, led narrowly after last, headed and no extra near finish
Eyre Apparent arrives off the back of a win at Haydock and McCoy takes the ride again, though he has a 7lb penalty to overcome. Blazing Bull finally got off the mark over a much longer trip at Catterick three weeks ago but has a lot more on his plate here off an 11lb higher mark while Doberdan and Domoly are racing from out of the handicap proper. FLYING SQUAD has paid the price in the weights for an easy win at Ayr but Shaun Dobbin again takes off 10lb and the nine-year-old has won over these tricky fences in the past. He looks the one to beat again, though the potentially well-treated Global Flyer should be monitored closely if attracting market support.
Eyre Apparent (IRE) 5-2 (11-2) Tended to jump right, led 1st, made rest, in command approaching 2 out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs beating Kykate (11-5) by 8l, 4 ran.
Papa Caruso 9-2 (10-13) With leader, led 10th, not fluent 4 out, fell 3 out, in a race won by Storming Gale (11-7) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft, 6 ran.
Flying Squad (UAE) 6-1 (11-4) Made all, clear before 2 out, kept on well, won at Ayr 2m 4f Conditional Handicap Chase (0-100) (5yo+) (5) sft beating Alexander Oats (11-5) by 5l, 6 ran.
Global Flyer 8-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders on outside, lost place 12th, well behind when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by King Jack (10-13) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd, 12 ran.
Scotch Warrior 5-1 (10-7) With leader and keen, led before 3rd, headed 4 out, ridden before 3 out, no impression from 2 out, last of 6, 25l behind Solway Bay (10-6) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Jul '11.
Blazing Bull (IRE) 15-8fav (10-0) Tracked leader, mistake 1st, with leader, led briefly 2nd, left in lead 13th, ran on strongly from 2 out, won at Catterick 3m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) gd beating Hollins (11-12) by 6l, 8 ran.
Doberdan (USA) 4-1 (10-11) Led, ridden after 3 out, headed before last, no chance with winner in clear 2nd flat, 2nd of 4, 11l behind No Way Hozay (10-0) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec.
Domoly (FR) 8-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, headway to 3rd at 12th, went 2nd and rider dropped whip between last 2, kept on but no chance with winnner, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Ancient Times (9-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Feb.
