held up towards rear, steady headway before 10th, chased leaders after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden to lead before last, kept on flat, caught last stride
very keen on way to post, blundered and rider lost iron briefly 1st, soon in mid-division, lost place and towards rear 10th, behind when pulled up before 4 out
led until not fluent and headed 8th, chased leaders, stayed on same pace from 2 out
chased leader until 8th, chased leaders, mistake 4 out, 4th and under pressure when blundered badly 3 out, weakened, not recover
chased leaders, weakened 12th, poor 8th when fell 3 out
in touch, weakened 11th, behind and no chance when slightly hampered 3 out, tailed off
in touch in 6th, headway on inside to lead 8th, headed after 10th, chased winner until slight stumble and dropped to 3rd 2 out, stayed on same pace after
chased leaders, went 2nd 8th, led after 10th, headed 11th, chased leader, stayed on gamely from last, led again last stride
mistake 1st, in rear, tailed off when blundered 3 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, headway to 5th 4 out, staying on same pace when mistake and unseated rider 2 out
in touch, headway to chase leaders 7th, driven after 12th, mistake and weakened next
jumped left, ridden and struggling after 7th, tailed off
mid-division on outside, in touch 7th, blundered badly 9th, soon behind, no chance when blundered 3 out, pulled up before next
always towards rear, ridden and struggling 10th, never on terms, tailed off
Nonrunner
The raising of the weights hasn't done ZAYNAR any favours but Nick Williams' grey, a very smart hurdler when on song, was most impressive when making all to beat subsequent scorer Kumbeshwar over a slightly shorter trip here last month. He gets a tentative vote on his handicap debut, though the worry is he may sulk if not getting his own way out in front. I'msingingtheblues rarely runs a bad race but the jury is out on Surfing after a heavy fall in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon and Noland may not be the force of old. Sa Suffit is struggling to recapture his best form but Gilbarry and Tullamore Dew are starting to look well handicapped and Hector's Choice and All For Free are others likely to make their presence felt.
I'msingingtheblues (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division on inside, chased leaders under pressure 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 4th of 16, 11l behind Quantitativeeasing (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec.
Surfing (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Led to after 7th, 5th and in touch when fell 9th, in a race won by Gauvain (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Zaynar (FR) 7-2fav (11-0) Jumped left at some fences, made all, joined and bumped 9th, came clear from 12th, kept on strongly and well in command from 3 out, won at Ascot 2m 3f nov chs Grade 2 (1) sft in Dec beating Kumbeshwar (10-8) by 9l, 6 ran.
Noland 10-1 (11-10) Soon led, joined halfway and headed before 11th, 3rd 3 out, 4th under pressure entering straight, no extra from before last, 5th of 9, 18l behind Synchronised (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) gd in Dec.
Mahogany Blaze (FR) 14-1 (11-8) In rear when blundered and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Tatenen (10-13) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gs in Jan '11, 11 ran.
Sa Suffit (FR) 11-4fav (11-10) With leader, lost place 6th, outpaced approaching 4 out, ridden 2 out, rallied flat, not reached leaders, 4th of 7, 1 3/4l behind Charingworth (9-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Dec.
Hector's Choice (FR) 20-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, pressing for 2nd when jumped right last, edged left and stayed on flat, unable to get to winner, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Calgary Bay (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs.
Tatenen (FR) 33-1 (10-7) Soon mid-division, chased leaders before 3 out to next, kept on same pace, no impression, 7th of 16, 18l behind Quantitativeeasing (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec.
Gilbarry (IRE) 17-2 (11-7) Held up in touch, not fluent 2nd, every chance 3 out, weakened before next, moderate 3rd, 3rd of 6, 38l behind Aerial (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f chs (2) sft in Dec.
Tullamore Dew (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Held up towards rear, effort from 5 out, never dangerous, 4th of 13, 29l behind Qianshan Leader (10-2) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Dec.
Renard (FR) 16-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, lost place 3rd, headway 13th, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression before next, 4th of 14, 10l behind Calgary Bay (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs.
The Hollinwell 25-1 (9-10) Help up, ridden halfway, behind when pulled up 12th, in a race won by According To Pete (9-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Only Vintage (USA) 14-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 3rd after 6th, led 4 out, clear after next, easily, won at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs beating Nomadic Warrior (10-9) by 7l, 10 ran.
All For Free (IRE) 9-2 (10-1) Held up in touch in 5th, ridden 8th, outpaced 10th, stayed on well from 2 out, went 3rd flat, took 2nd post, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Hold Fast (11-0) at Sandown 2m hcp chs (2) gs.
Pearlysteps 20-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 3rd, not fluent 8th, headed when fell last, in a race won by Cannington Brook (10-9) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
