led to 12th, ridden and weakened before 4 out, tailed off
mid-division, close up 8th, challenged 5 out, led going well 3 out, driven clear approaching last, ridden out
not fluent and soon towards rear, reminder 5th, struggling 8th, pulled up before 12th
mid-division, close up 8th, led narrowly on inside after 4 out, headed next, ridden and one pace after 2 out, no impression with winner in clear 2nd before last
towards rear, mistake 2nd, struggling 9th, pulled up before 12th
held up towards rear, struggling 10th, pulled up before 12th
behind, headway under pressure after 5 out, went 3rd before 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with front pair
tracked leader, led 12th, headed after 4 out, weakened before next
chased clear leaders, dropped to mid-division 9th, outpaced 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off
with leaders, lost place 5 out, ridden and weakened after next
Current Event took advantage of a tumbling mark to score at Kempton in November but has been raised 8lb again since, though has a 5lb claimer on board today. Plein Pouvoir arrives in good form but takes on stronger company now and more evidence is needed before deciding whether Tullamore Dew is on the comeback trail. Big Fella Thanks has been racing over further recently but must have some sort of chance and is preferred to Take The Breeze and the out-of-sorts Consigliere. MICHEAL FLIPS is eased in grade and the weights and hasn't been running badly this term, despite failing to make the frame. This looks his big chance to recapture the winning thread and he gets the nod.
Fiendish Flame (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Led, jumped right 2nd, pushed along and headed before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 8, 29l behind Robbie (10-4) at Doncaster 2m Handicap Hurdle (0-140) (3yo+) (3) gs in Dec.
Big Fella Thanks 7-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, not fluent 11th, mistake next, hampered 15th (canal turn), headway 17th, stayed on flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 16, 2l behind Hello Bud (10-0) at Aintree 3m 2f Listed hcp chs (1) hvy in Dec.
Micheal Flips (IRE) 33-1 (9-13) Behind early, headway into mid-division 3rd, driven to chase leaders 4 out, well beaten 4th when pecked 2 out, weakened into 5th between last 2, 5th of 14, 48l behind Unioniste (9-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Dec.
Consigliere (FR) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division, lost place 6th, soon struggling and behind, no danger after, 10th of 15, 29l behind Ulck Du Lin (10-2) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.
Take The Breeze (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, in rear before 8th, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, well behind Easter Meteor (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
Current Event (FR) 4-1 (11-1) Made all, clear before last, kept on strongly, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov beating Bally Legend (11-9) by 7l, 6 ran.
Tullamore Dew (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, headway to 3rd at 14th, hung left and stayed on to 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Restless Harry (11-0) at Newbury 3m grad ch (2) sft in Dec.
Mr Gardner (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Led, not fluent 4th and next, blundered and headed 6th, chased leaders, mistake 8th(water), lost place next, pulled up quickly after 10th, in a race won by Noble Prince (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Mar '11, 11 ran.
Plein Pouvoir (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th, blundered 4 out, upsides 2 out, led narrowly when not fluent last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) sft in Dec beating Red Rouble (10-2) by 4l, 12 ran.
The Sawyer (BEL) 15-2 (10-9) Led, not fluent 5th, hampered by loose horse 15th, headed before 2 out, soon beaten, 6th of 9, 27l behind The Rainbow Hunter (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
