led 3rd to 8th, chased leader, led 4 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly
never travelling in rear, tailed off when pulled up approaching 12th
behind, pushed along 8th, blundered 11th soon driven, struggling 12th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, ridden approaching 13th, weakened 15th, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway 8th, 5th and pushed along approaching 12th, weakened and not on terms from 5 out, tailed off
always behind, struggling 5 out, tailed off, pulled up soon after
in touch, mistake 12th, chased leaders after 5 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, weakened 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, some headway 12th, behind 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
awkward 1st, chased leader, led 8th, blundered and headed 4 out, not fluent and lost 2nd 3 out, finished tired
behind, mistake 4th, tailed off when blundered 12th pulled up before 13th
held up towards rear, steady headway 10th, chased leading trio after 5 out, chased winner and not fluent 3 out, no impression before last
held up in mid-division, headway and just in touch 12th, weakened 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
never travelling towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
led to 3rd, chased leading pair when blundered and useated rider 5th
Nonrunner
LORUM LEADER may be able to land this valuable prize at the main expense of Mark The Book and Tarquinius. Charlie Mann's runner came close to landing a National at Plumpton for which he's been raised by 4lbs but he's relatively unexposed and this sort of test suits him well although this is a stronger race. Mark The Book may have been a fortunate winner at Chepstow but he has few miles on the clock and was well regarded in his youth so could still get his act together. A clear round could see Cleni Boy take a hand in the finish whilst Gentle Ranger has been in fine form this winter and may just need a little luck to pick up a prize of this nature. Richard's Sundance won well on his third attempt over fences but he doesn't appeal as being that well handicapped although he is, in fairness, open to improvement. Trigger The Light hasn't always impressed with his jumping but he has the ability to figure if he's improved his game and jumping could also be an issue for Maktu who has performed well in just a handful of starts over the larger obstacles but will have more pressure put on him in this company. Lorum Leader was a relatively cheap purchase from Ireland in 2008 but he rewarded his connections with an impressive victory at Market Rasen in November. It's easy enough to pick holes in that performance but harder to knock his run at Sandown in a race that was won by a well handicapped course specialist. He did enough that day to suggest that he has the scope to win a race of this nature and we'll be hoping that Lorum Leader can oblige today.
Richard's Sundance (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Made all, driven out, won at Exeter 3m beg chs (4) sft in Dec beating Connak (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Pretty Star (GER) 17-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, slightly hampered 5th, blundered and lost place 12th, plugged on after 4 out, no danger, 5th of 15, 22l behind Fortification (10-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec.
Or Jaune (FR) 16-1 (11-8) Held up in mid-division, hit 12th and lost place after, kept on again flat but no chance, 6th of 15, 23l behind Fortification (10-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec.
Gentle Ranger (IRE) 7-2 (10-9) Led, headed approaching 2 out, rallied in the run in, no extra close home, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Sherwoods Folly (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft.
Double Dizzy 10-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, driven and headed flat, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Sherwoods Folly (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft.
Trigger The Light 5-1 (11-5) Held up, reminders 4th, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 22l behind Minella Boys (10-10) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Mark The Book (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, hit 2nd, travelling well when left clear 4 out, eased flat, won at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) hvy in Dec beating Earth Planet (11-0) by 31l, 6 ran.
Lorum Leader (IRE) 4-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, effort approaching 2nd last, soon weakened, 2nd of 8, 19l behind Eric's Charm (11-1) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Dec.
Wee Robbie 14-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway from 10th, chasing leaders and travelling okay when fell 4 out, in a race won by Mount Oscar (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov, 18 ran.
Soixante (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Prominent, led and hit 4th, made most after, hit 7th, headed 4 out, weakened rapidly, tailed off, 8th of 15, 50l behind Fortification (10-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec.
Bob Bob Bobbin 7-1 (11-0) Chased leaders to 4th, tailed off 6th, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Le Beau Bai (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Cleni Boy (FR) 20-1 (9-11) Held up, fell 17th, in a race won by Vic Venturi (11-12) at Aintree 3m 2f list hcp ch (1) sft in Nov, 8 ran.
Tarquinius (FR) 10-3fav (11-1) Chased leaders, with leader 5th, led last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 12, hd behind Master Overseer (10-13) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Fine By Me (IRE) 8-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 10th, led 5 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on well flat, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec beating Scots Dragoon (11-1) by 2 3/4l, 13 ran.
Treasulier (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Mid-division, lost place 14th, stayed on under pressure from 3 out, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 13, 22l behind Fine By Me (9-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Maktu 10-1 (11-6) Behind, blundered 3rd and 5th, headway 13th, stayed on from 3 out, not pace to reach leaders, 4th of 13, 9l behind Doctor Pat (10-13) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec.
