jumped well, led until 5th, chased leader, led again 12th until 15th, led again 3 out, stayed on gamely
towards rear, headway chasing leaders 11th, outpaced approaching 3 out, plugged on run-in
raced wide towards rear, headway when stumbled 15th, weakened 17th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, behind and struggling 10th, pulled up before 12th
held up and behind, headway into mid-division approaching 4 out, mistake and weakened next
mid-division, weakened 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
mistake 1st, chased leaders, lost place 7th, towards rear and struggling 12th, blundered 4 out, pulled up before next
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 5th, mistake and weakened 11th, pulled up before 4 out
in touch, headway chasing leaders 12th, weakened before 4 out
held up off the pace towards rear, steady headway chasing leaders approaching 17th, 3rd before 3 out, went 2nd soon after 3 out, kept on same pace from last
chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon driven and stayed on same pace
raced keenly, chased leaders, blundered 17th, weakened soon after
chased leaders, led 5th, hit 10th, lost 2nd next, chased winner, blundered 12th, led again 15th until 3 out, soon lost 2nd, weakened and mistake 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake 8th, steady headway approaching 13th, chasing leaders when hit 3 out, went 3rd next until between last 2, weakened run-in
held up towards rear, headway went 3rd between last 2, kept on same pace
chased leaders, weakened and mistake 15th, pulled up before 3 out
A typically-competitive renewal of this Listed handicap but Present Man and Bryony Frost won it last year and the eight-year-old is only 2lb higher. Ramses De Teillee took well to fences last season but the going is likely to be much too quick for David Pipe’s six-year-old. BELMOUNT makes a quick reappearance after going down by a head at Exeter on Tuesday but beat Forever Field on fast ground at Ludlow before that and has every chance if this doesn’t come too soon. El Bandit could be anything but the handicapper has taken no chances while the selection’s stablemate Bigbadjohn is best when able to dominate small fields. Charlie Longsdon’s pair Aunty Ann and Bestwork appear closely matched but Sam Red pounced late to land an amateurs’ handicap at Cheltenham last month and Fingerontheswitch made a winning return to chasing at Wetherby. Allelu Alleluia won easily at Worcester last month but has a 10lb hike to contend with so the consistent Sumkindofking makes more appeal, though this may be too far.
Present Man (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along in 3rd after 4 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 20, 27l behind Step Back (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Ramses De Teillee (FR) 10-1 (10-6) Chased leaders until ridden and lost place after 3 out, 9th of 16, 15 1/2l behind Traffic Fluide (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
El Bandit (IRE) 4-11fav (10-12) Made all, clear 4 out, not fluent next, easily, won at Warwick 3m 1f (2) gd in May beating Shelford (11-3) by 16l, 3 ran.
Kings Lad (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, slow 4th, lost place before 12th, rallied 2 out, soon no impression, 5th of 9, 14 1/4l behind Traffic Fluide (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Allelu Alleluia (GER) 15-2 (11-1) Held up, went 3rd before 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, soon challenging and then left in lead, drew clear from last, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Classic Ben (11-6) by 10l, 6 ran.
Bigbadjohn (IRE) 7-4fav (11-10) Sometimes jumped left, made all, kept on well from 2 out, won at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) fm in Oct beating Ridgeway Flyer (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Forever Field (IRE) 11-4fav (11-6) Raced wide tracking leaders, 2nd before 3 out (normal 4 out) led narrowly 2 out, headed soon after the last, hung right under pressure and no extra run-in, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Belmount (11-0) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Belmount (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, challenged between front pair after 5 out, left in lead next, joined 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, headed narrowly final strides, 2nd of 7, hd behind Scoop The Pot (11-9) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Dancing Shadow (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Led, ridden after 4 out, headed 3 out, 3rd and beaten last, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Vodka All The Way (11-0) at Exeter 2m 7f (4) gs in Apr.
Sumkindofking (IRE) 2-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, challenged 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, kept on run-in, 3rd of 5, 2l behind Bigbadjohn (11-10) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) fm in Oct.
Aunty Ann (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Led until 2nd, chased leader, reached for 6th, led again before 4 out, headed 2 out, rallied last, led again soon after, kept on well run-in, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gf in Oct beating Cuirassier Dempire (11-7) by 1l, 7 ran.
Bestwork (FR) 10-1 (11-1) Close up, led after 3rd, made most to after 13th, lost place next, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out, at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
On Demand 9-2 (11-8) Led, jumped left in places, headed 4 out, soon rallied, outpaced 2 out, kept on under pressure closing stages, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Atlanta Ablaze (11-2) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Captain Buck's (FR) 11-4fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, outpaced after 4 out, rallied into 3rd and mistake 2 out, kept on well run-in, almost snatched 2nd, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Aunty Ann (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Close up, tracked leaders 10th, chased leader 3 out, ridden to challenge approaching last, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov beating The Paddy Pie (11-11) by nk, 5 ran.
Sam Red (FR) 11-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, outpaced before next, rallied flat, led towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Fifty Shades (10-3) by 3/4l, 19 ran.
