held up towards rear, ridden and effort 13th, weakened 4 out
held up towards rear, not fluent from 9th, not jumped well from 10th, ridden 13th, rallied 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
prominent, hampered after 8th, chased leaders 10th, kept on same pace from 4 out
made all, clear 11th, hit 3 out, well clear when mistake last, eased flat
chased clear leader, mistake 10th, soon lost place, ridden approaching 13th, weakened, pulled up before 3 out
held up in mid-division, headway and ridden 12th, weakened 13th, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, headway 6th, pulled up quickly after 8th
in touch, mistake 5th, 5 lengths 4th when mistake and unseated rider 7th
Nonrunner
Englishtown has been in consistently fine form this winter, and he gets the vote ahead of Lucifer Bleu, Tommy Spar and Black Hills. The last-named won well over course and distance last month and holds claims off just a 5lb higher mark. However the form of that win has been let down by the runner-up since, so he will have to improve today to trouble the judge. Tommy Spar heads the weights, and would be interesting on better ground, but is passed over today. So is Seychellois who has been put up a rather harsh 6lbs for finishing runner-up to Milan Deux Mille (who has since been well beaten) last time out. Lucifer Bleu returned from a very lengthy break to score emphatically at Hereford three weeks ago, and he must have leading claims again today. However he steps up in trip today and has an extra 16lb to carry, so for those reasons he is taken on. Ultimately Englishtown gets the nod, being at the right end of the handicap for a race in these testing ground conditions. Whilst he is yet to fully prove himself on the ground, his win last-time out was done in taking fashion and he represents an in-form and powerful stable. There are plenty of dangers in the field, but we will stick with Englishtown as our tentative selection.
Tommy Spar 4-1 (11-12) Led or disputed lead until went on 9th, ridden and kept on from 2 out, won at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Aug beating Return Home (10-11) by 6l, 7 ran.
Le Seychellois (FR) 12-1 (11-3) In touch, headway after 4 out, challenging when carried left 2 out, soon switched right, chance flat, no extra close home, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Milan Deux Mille (11-1) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Black Hills 7-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, ridden behind leader 3 out, led after 3 out, driven clear when mistake last, ran on, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan beating Mambo Des Mottes (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Lucifer Bleu (FR) 28-1 (10-7) Made all, clear 3 out, stumbled and pecked last, eased flat, won at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan beating Maletton (12-5) by 5l, 8 ran.
Magico (NZ) 5-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, led 7th, headed 10th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, well behind Mokum (10-8) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Molostiep (FR) 12-1 (11-2) In rear, headway 8th, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 7, well behind Ursis (11-2) at Hereford 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Uncle Wallace 5-1 (11-11) Held up in touch, blundered 4th, soon behind, last of 7, 42l behind Neltina (11-12) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Englishtown (FR) 11-8fav (11-5) Chased leaders, challenging when left in lead 3 out, driven out, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Jan beating Lizzie Bathwick (10-13) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Alphabetical (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) In touch, weakened 4 out, mistake last, 6th of 8, 36l behind Lucifer Bleu (10-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Alexanderthegreat (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Prominent, joined leader 6th, led 9th, headed next, every chance when unseated rider at the 11th in race won by Parkinson (10-4) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
