always towards rear, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
chased winner, pushed along before 2 out, well held when lost 2nd at the last, kept on same pace in 3rd
towards rear, tailed off 7th, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, weakened after 3 out
chased leaders on inside, pushed along before 2 out, mistake 2 out, weakened between last 2
chased leaders, ridden and losing place when mistake 2 out
made virtually all, clear between last 2, stayed on strongly
mid-division, headway before 2 out, kept on into 2nd at the last, no chance with winner
chased leaders on outside, not fluent 8th, pushed along and weakening when mistake 2 out, blundered last
restrained in rear and keen, never on terms, tailed off
restrained in rear, headway before 2 out, kept on run-in pressing for modest 3rd
mid-division, mistake 5th, towards rear and struggling 7th, tailed off
Buywise was still in contention when falling at the last over fences at Sandown recently. He hasn’t won over hurdles for some time though can race off a much lower mark reverting to the smaller obstacles. Sandymount had decent form at Market Rasen in 2017 but missed the whole of last year and HONEST VIC is preferred. He was having only his second start since May when runner-up at Ludlow last month and the winner has subsequently boosted the form by going in again. Myplaceatmidnight remains unexposed and ran well over these hurdles last time while Shillingsworth was in the process of running a big race when falling two out at the same meeting.
Mercenaire (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Led until after 4th, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 9, 20 1/4l behind Truckers Lodge (11-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Merry Milan (IRE) 5-1fav (12-0) Towards rear, not fluent 2nd, some headway into mid-division after 11th, struggling when hit 13th, never near leaders, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 12, 29 3/4l behind Commodore (11-1) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Buywise (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, good headway chasing leaders 16th, went 2nd before 2 out, held when fell last, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Sandymount (IRE) 11-4 (10-7) Chased leading pair, not fluent 7th, outpaced in 4th after 3 out, rallied into 2nd and kept on run-in, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind The Tourard Man (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Pilansberg 12-1 (11-9) Mid-division, pushed along and headway into 2nd over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 12th of 14, dist behind Darling Maltaix (11-4) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Honest Vic (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Rear of mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway on outside after 7th, 3rd 3 out, edged left before not fluent last, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Burrows Park (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Myplaceatmidnight 9-2 (12-1) Held up in touch, headway after 3 out, chased winner next, no extra closing stages, 4th of 8, 3 3/4l behind Rhythm Is A Dancer (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Pineapple Rush 7-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, chased leaders under pressure next, never able to challenge, weakened flat, 10th of 18, 31l behind Aspen Colorado (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Shillingsworth (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) In touch, went 2nd before 3rd, under pressure approaching when fell 2 out, at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Away For Slates (IRE) 50-1 (11-11) Always behind, 14th of 15, dist behind Texan Nomad (11-0) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Way Out West (IRE) 17-2 (11-9) Keen in rear, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 6th of 14, 16 1/2l behind Daydream Aulmes (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Cotton Club (IRE) 100-1 (9-4) Always towards rear, weakened over 2f out, 12th of 13, 16 1/2l behind Claire Underwood (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
