led until narrowly headed 7th, hit 10th, chased leader until 12th, weakened 4 out, beaten when went left last 3, tailed off
tracked leading pair, shaken up after several fences, mistake 9th, went 2nd 12th, challenged 16th, led narrowly after 4 out, headed before 3 out, weakened next
jumped right, tracked leading trio, went 3rd 17th, quickened to lead before 3 out, went badly right from 3 out, joined last, ridden and quickened away again from last
tracked leader, led narrowly 7th, headed after 4 out and outpaced, rallied from next, every chance last, unable to quicken flat
tracked leading trio, slow jump13th, soon under pressure, left behind 16th, tailed off
A very interesting contest in which RICHARD'S SUNDANCE is preferred to Blazing Bailey and Fairoak Lad. The ground will be quicker today than at Wincanton last time out when winning, however the selection has run well on a decent surface before. His double penalty makes life tougher however he looks to be getting the hang of things over fences and is preferred. Blazing Bailey was the best of these over hurdles (third in the World Hurdle in the past) and he got off the mark in good style at Leicester last time. His previous third to top chaser Burton Port reads well and it would be no surprise to see him run very well. Course winner Fairoak Lad was well-held in the Feltham on Boxing Day but drops in grade today and his previous third to Any Currency looks solid handicap form. Hoof It Harry couldn't have found a tougher race to contend on his chasing bow, and a bigger threat is Gullible Gordon. He was pulled-up at Fontwell last time but his first run over fences at Chepstow was impressive and it would be no surprise to see a return to form on this more conventional track. A corker of a race, with Richard's Sundance given the vote.
Richard's Sundance (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Led 3rd to 8th, chased leader, led 4 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan beating Cleni Boy (10-13) by 5l, 15 ran.
Blazing Bailey 5-6fav (10-12) Tracked leader, jumped big and reminder 1st, led 14th, stayed on well, won at Leicester 2m 7f nov stks (3) hvy beating Bench Warrent (11-4) by 5l, 4 ran.
Fairoak Lad (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Soon towards rear, never jumped well, detached after 11th, tailed off, left in remote 4th at 2nd last, 4th of 7, well behind Long Run (11-0) at Kempton 3m nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Gullible Gordon (IRE) 5-4fav (11-4) Led, stumbled 3rd, reminders after 9th, headed approaching 11th, ridden after 12th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Over Sixty (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov stks (3) sft in Jan, 5 ran.
Hoof It Harry (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Prominent, weakened after 5th, 9th of 14, well behind Power Shared (10-6) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
