led, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden after 3 out, soon lost place, weakened before 2 out and pulled up
tracked leaders on inside, not much room on bend before 3rd, every chance approaching 2 out, weakened before last
chased leaders, led before 2 out, driven out
mid-division, ridden after 4th, stayed on same pace to take 4th approaching last, no impression on leaders
mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden before 2 out, staying on same pace in 3rd when jumped right and not fluent last, no impression on leaders
held up in rear, not fluent 3 out, headway on outside soon after, lost place, eased and pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, hit 3rd, headway after 3 out, chased winner before next, stayed on, unable to challenge
tracked leaders, not much room on bend before 3rd, lost place when not fluent 3 out, some progress when not fluent 2 out, one pace last
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, weakened before last
prominent, not fluent 3 out, weakened 2 out
Nonrunner
Arrayan got back to winning ways in a Taunton claimer earlier this month but this is a bit more competitive. Dreambrook Lady would have a chance on her best form while Maxi Chop won three times on the Flat in France and was second on his UK debut over hurdles at Taunton nine days ago. Diamond's Return made giant strides last spring and could figure if fully wound-up while South Stack is usually thereabouts and Dragon's Den is well enough handicapped, though struggles to get his head in front. Scoter Fontaine has never won over hurdles whereas JUMPS ROAD landed a novice event at Ffos Las just over a year ago and went on to run in Grade 2 and Grade 3 contests. Back over the smaller obstacles, he ran a nice race at Ffos Las earlier this month and could be the value in this.
Arrayan 5-1 (11-10) Always prominent, led approaching 3rd, soon pressed, headed 3 out, led again before next, stayed on well, won at Taunton 2m 1f clm hdl (5) hvy beating Oscar Gogo (11-2) by 8l, 8 ran.
Maxi Chop (FR) 9-4 (10-12) Always prominent, effort 2 out, soon one paace, 2nd of 14, 12l behind Shotavodka (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) hvy.
Double Handful (GER) 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 12, 23l behind Bourne (11-12) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
Jumps Road 10-1 (10-10) In touch in mid-division, closed after 7th, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra flat, 5th of 14, 11l behind Kaylif Aramis (10-8) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy.
Scoter Fontaine (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Held up, raced wide, headway after 4th, went 2nd before 2 out, soon no impression, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 21l behind Extremely So (10-4) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Jan.
South Stack 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, headway before 2 out, led narrowly last, headed flat, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Thunderstorm (11-7) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Diamond's Return (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, went 4th before 2 out, ridden before last, chased winner run-in, kept on and always held, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Greyfriars Drummer (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Jun.
Headly's Bridge (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, headway aproaching 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, never any chance with very easy winner, 2nd of 7, 25l behind Laterly (11-5) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Dragon's Den (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, headway 5th, one pace before last, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Brick Red (11-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Rior (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Waited with, no extra from 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Masked Phantom (11-10) at Cork 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-109 in Nov, 15 ran.
Arch Event 16-1 (10-11) Towards rear, headway 3 out, went 4th 2 out, one pace, 4th of 13, 23l behind Niki Royal (11-2) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
Dreambrook Lady (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Towards rear, in rear halfway, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Adiynara (11-2) at Wolverhampton 2m Mares Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Jan.
Zulu Principle 50-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway and in touch when not fluent 4th, lost place before 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 14, 34l behind Mr Mole (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
