in touch, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up last, headway 6th, chased leaders approaching 2 out, ridden and led 2 out, edged right after last, kept on well
chased leader, ridden after 3 out, kept on one pace from 2 out, hit last
held up, ridden and weakened 3 out
prominent, ridden and chased leaders 3 out, weakened after 2 out
towards rear, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, hit 5th and 6th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden behind leaders 2 out, hit last, one pace
led, ridden and headed 2 out, rallying when short of room and hampered final 150 yards, not recover
MORE THE MERRIER gets the vote in this opener ahead of Painter Man and Petroupetrov. This 7-year-old is a lightly-raced type and he won well earlier in the month at Kempton when he got the better of Bally Conn. This slight step-up in trip should suit and he will go on the ground so he makes plenty of appeal. Painter Man is another lightly-raced type and he finished in mid-division at Chepstow last time in a race won by Secret Tune. He was returning from a lengthy break that day so he should certainly come on the run and a watching brief on the market is advised. Petroupetrov should be up to winning a race, and he was far from disgraced on his return from an eight month break last time when he chased home Burgess Hill. This looks more competitive but he might be good enough to claim a place. I'moncloudnine won at Hereford before Christmas and he ran well last time at Taunton under a big weight. Those runs both came over the chase fences and he may not be quite as good over hurdles. A competitive start to proceedings and the vote is given to More The Merrier.
Petroupetrov (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner after 2 out, ridden and held before last, kept on run-in, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Burgess Hill (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Painter Man (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Held up, keen, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened soon after, 7th of 15, 25l behind Secret Tune (11-0) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
More The Merrier (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Chased leader, led 3 out, narrowly headed 2 out, outpaced soon after, rallied well under pressure flat, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Bally Conn (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Querido (USA) 33-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, mistake 6th, some headway when mistake 7th, weakened after 8th, tailed off, 9th of 19, well behind Youngstown (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan.
I'moncloudnine (IRE) 4-1 (12-3) Chased leader, ridden and chased winner after 4 out, no extra from last, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Take It There (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Madness (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden after 5th, hit next, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 49l behind Teddy's Reflection (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Mikado Melody (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Raced on inside, led, ridden and headed between last 2, weakened, 4th of 8, 23l behind Midnight Chase (11-12) at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
Well Green (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Pulled early in mid-division, headway 4th, ridden and weakened after 6th, 8th of 10, 24l behind Manmoon (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Sashenka 3-1 (11-10) Led to 6th, regained lead next, 5 lengths clear 2 out, reduced lead on long run before last, headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Heir To Be (11-7) at Folkestone 2m 6f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Jan.
