held up, took keen hold and raced wide, closed from 3rd, went 2nd after 4th until after 3 out, soon weakened
held up, last and behind 3rd, not fluent 3 out, went 11 lengths 3rd 2 out, stayed on approaching last, went 2nd flat, unable to challenge winner
chased leading pair, went 2nd after 3 out, closed on leader next, led on bit before last, ridden and stayed on flat
held up in rear, well beaten after 3 out, went 4th 2 out, no impression
tracked leader, jumped right 1st, lost 2nd after, weakened after 3 out
led, clear 3 out until ridden before 2 out where not fluent, no extra flat
Twoways has his ground again and is on a hat-trick after victories at Towcester and Carlisle. He'll be thereabouts if handling this sharper track while Keel Haul is in good form but has been raised 8lb for winning at Warwick and may need a stiffer test. Midnight Thunder came up against an improver here last month and should be winning soon but we'll give another chance to FASCINO RUSTICO. Going well when falling two out here last time, he would have easily finished ahead of eventual fifth Benbecula and is having only his third start over timber. Easily Pleased may need this and will be back over fences shortly.
Fascino Rustico 4-5fav (11-2) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, steady progress 3 out, went 2nd on bit before 2 out, upsides and challenging for lead when stumbled on landing and fell 2 out, in a race won by Saint Breiz (10-9) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy, 15 ran.
Twoways (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway to go 3rd before 2 out, led before last, kept on, won at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy beating Hallmark Star (10-7) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Keel Haul (IRE) 3-1fav (10-13) Held up in touch, led before last, kept on well, won at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy beating King Zeal (10-9) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Easily Pleased (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, every chance next, ridden after last, no impression, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Notarfbad (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Benbecula 20-1 (11-2) Led, hit 1st, not fluent next, clear before 3rd, joined when not fluent 2 out, driven between last 2, 1 length ahead under strong pressure last, headed and hung right flat, weakened and lost places final 100 yards, 5th of 15, 3l behind Saint Breiz (10-9) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Midnight Thunder (IRE) 6-4 (11-4) Led, blundered 2 out, headed before last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Baltimore Rock (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
