held up and raced wide, jumped slowly 1st, headway on wide outside to chase leaders 10th, pushed along in 4th before 3 out, went modest 3rd just before last, no chance with leading duo
chased leaders, fell 7th
chased leader, mistake 2nd, led after 8th, hit 3 out and headed, pressed leader, led again last, kept on well flat, eased close home
held up in rear, hampered 7th, steady headway approaching 4 out, led 3 out, blundered next, hit last and headed, stayed on same pace flat
took keen hold, held up, blundered 2nd, fell 13th
took keen hold in touch, headway on inside to chase leaders 9th (water), mistake 4 out, weakened before next
led, headed after 8th, chased leader until just before 3 out, soon ridden, one pace and no impression next, weakened to 4th approaching last
chased leaders, weakened 11th, no chance when hampered 13th, tailed off
chased leaders, lost place before 8th, weakening when mistake 10th, struggling when jumped slowly 11th, tailed off
BENNYS MIST could hardly have been more impressive when forging clear over track and trip two weeks ago. All but one of his six career victories have come on heavy going and, with conditions in his favour again, Venetia Williams' charge should take all the beating today despite a 6lb higher mark. Bertie Boru is another recent course and distance winner who may still be fairly treated but Ultragold could be a bigger threat now back in form. Coolking won't mind the ground and is also interesting while Forgotten Gold has been a bit unlucky so far this season. Requin could figure with a recent pipe-opener under his belt and preferred to Rouge Et Blanc of the remainder.
Carrickboy (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, lost place after 10th, soon well beaten, pulled up before last, in a race won by Double Ross (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft, 7 ran.
Forgotten Gold (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Prominent until ridden after 10th (bechers brook), well beaten after 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 16, well behind Rebel Rebellion (11-11) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec.
Bennys Mist (IRE) 11-4fav (11-9) Tracked leader, led after 13th, clear from before 2 out, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy beating Forest Walker (11-8) by 7l, 8 ran.
Rouge Et Blanc (FR) 8-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led 6th, jumped right 4 out, headed 2 out, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 6, 5l behind De Boitron (11-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
Bertie Boru (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along before 4 out, soon left 2nd, led before last, kept on, won at Wincanton 2m 5f (3) hvy beating Hansupfordetroit (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Ultragold (FR) 5-2fav (11-5) Tracked leaders on inside, led 13th, headed after 3 out, soon ridden, 6 lengths down in 2nd when hit last, weakened into 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Via Sundown (11-6) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Coolking 9-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway before 3 out, chased leaders next, never on terms, 4th of 9, 21l behind Bucking The Trend (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Webberys Dream 7-1 (11-0) Led to 3rd, reminders 8th, soon lost place and in rear, soon pulled up, in a race won by Velator (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Requin (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Chicklemix (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft.