tracked leaders, ridden 5th, weakened next, losing positions when hampered 3 out
mid-divisdion, ridden 4 out, staying on and hampered 3 out, soon one pace
mid-division, weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 6th, ridden 3 out, one pace from 2 out
mid-divisdion, weakening when hampered 3 out
led, ridden 3 out, weakening when headed soon after
held up in touch, headway 6th, close up and going well when fell 3 out
towards rear headway 4th, weakened 8th
tracked leaders, weakened after 7th, pulled up before 3 out
held up, ridden and headway 3 out, kept on but hung left flat
mid-division, hampered 5th, pulled up before 7th
held up towards rear, headway appraoching 3 out, chased winner in vain from next
towards rear, never better than finishing position
mid-division, fell 5th
chased leaders, ridden 7th, weakened next and pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, ridden when hampered 3 out, some late progress
mid-division, ridden from 4 out, kept on
always prominent, ridden 3 out, led soon after, clear 2 out, unchallenged
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
Mistified ran his usual consistent race behind Harakles at Huntingdon on Thursday and should again be thereabouts but may find this coming too soon so preference is for Ballybawn House, who gets the vote ahead of Maximinus. The selection showed decent form without winning in bumpers and has shown a similar level of form over hurdles, running promisingly when stepped up to 2m4f last time. He looks to be well treated for his handicap debut and is taken to gain a deserved first success. Martin Pipe's Argent Ou Or could be of interest on his first start since December and he makes more appeal than Ask The Umpire, who has disappointed of late. The Paul Nicholls-trained Lunch Was My Idea has yet to convince with his hurdling ability, while Optimistic Alfie looks to have plenty of weight for what he has achieved. Maximinus reverts to hurdles having disappointed over fences last time and could be of interest but the vote goes to Ballybawn House, who is taken to open his account.
Optimistic Alfie 25-1 (11-4) Chased winner to 5th, stayed prominent until driven and weakened quickly next, 8th of 11, 42l behind Snakebite (11-4) at Lingfield 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Coeur d'Alene 25-1 (11-6) Always in rear, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 15, well behind Teeton Babysham (11-6) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Call Me Edward (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Led 1st to 7th, led again approaching 8th to approaching 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Gritti Palace (10-7) at Warwick 3m 1f nov hdl (E) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Ballybawn House 4-1 (11-1) Held up, headway from 7th, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 15, 8l behind Treaty Flyer (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Maximinus 10-1 (11-4) Chased leader, lost place 3rd, behind 5th, blundered 8th pulled up 4 out in race won by Wizard of Edge (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Jan, 10 ran.
Mandica (IRE) 15-2 (10-8) Held up, mistake 9th, headway next, ridden approaching 13th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 15, 16l behind Nas Na Riogh (11-7) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Argent Ou Or (FR) 7-1 (10-13) Tracked clear leader, closed approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 14, 12l behind Green Iceni (11-6) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) hvy in Dec.
Ask The Umpire (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Behind, ridden after 8th, headway 10th, weakened 13th, 4th of 14, 39l behind Jacarado (10-7) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-88 (5) sft.
Peerless Motion (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) pulled up in race won by Royal Jake (12-7) at Siddington 3m ptp gd in Mar, 7 ran.
Bright Green 100-1 (10-13) Mid-division, behind from 6th pulled up 3 out in race won by Kilty Storm (10-13) at Newbury 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jan, 15 ran.
Miss Midnight 16-1 (10-10) Prominent, ridden when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 21l behind Kayceecee (11-2) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Mistified (IRE) 5-1 (10-7) Held up mid-division, not fluent 4 out, soon outpaced, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 15, 15l behind Herakles (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
The Laying Hen (IRE) 100-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, stayed on well from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Hollywood (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) gd.
Armagh South (IRE) 66-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, behind from 5th, soon tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Alright Now M'Lad (11-4) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Lunch Was My Idea (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, some effort 7th, soon weakened, 6th of 14, 46l behind Dream Alliance (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Business Traveller (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway approaching 9th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 18, 18l behind Piran (10-6) at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jan.
Syncopated Rhythm (IRE) 15-2 (11-3) Not fluent, in touch, mistake and driven along 5th, lost place 4 out, 6th of 10, 40l behind Precious Bane (10-7) at Lingfield 3m nov hcp chs (F) sft in Nov.
Pure Magic (FR) 80-1 (11-6) Prominent, ridden 7th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Ballyshan (11-6) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Star Galaxy (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Prominent, chased leader from 6th, ridden and every chance after 3 out, mistake and weakened 2 out, 7th of 10, 43l behind Nobel Bleu de Kerpau (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Here We Go (IRE) 33-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, lost place 5th, plugged on under pressure from 3 out, no danger, 5th of 14, 24l behind Temoin (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) gd.
Commanche General (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, struggling 8th, mistake 9th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by New Perk (10-3) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jan, 7 ran.