mid-division, headway 5 out, chased front pair after next, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, no extra in 4th flat
towards rear, headway into mid-division 13th, struggling 19th, soon behind, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, led 7th, made rest, ridden after 2 out, held on well flat
mid-division, headway after 16th, outpaced 4 out, no impression with leaders after
towards rear, headway under pressure 4 out, chased leaders next, ridden after 2 out, stayed on strongly flat, took 2nd near finish, not reach winner
mid-division, close up on outer after 8th, lost place 19th, soon behind
led to 5th, chased leaders, driven 4 out, no impression before next
held up in rear, headway into mid-division after 4 out, never near leaders, weakened last
tracked leaders, lost place 19th, soon struggling, kept on from last, no impression
mid-division, fell 11th
hampered 11th, always behind
always prominent, chased winner 4 out, ridden after next, kept on under pressure flat, held when lost 2nd near finish
never better than mid-division, behind when reminders after 15th, lost touch before 5 out, soon pulled up
prominent, led 5th to 7th, chased winner, lost place 4 out, soon outpaced, no impression from next
NonRunner
Gonalston Cloud is bidding for National double having landed the Lincolnshire version on Boxing Day. He beat the frustrating Jac The Legend here last season and is two from two at the track so has to be respected. Fill The Power was behind at Market Rasen but re-opposes on better terms and his stable won this last year. They also run Straidnahanna, another with an unblemished record around here, and Harry The Viking has to go on the short-list having beaten Carrigdhoun over 4m at Kelso when Itstimeforapint finished a close-up third. But Sandy Thomson’s veteran was easily beaten by BALLYBEN at Carlisle in October and, despite better terms, Malcolm Jefferson’s charge is fancied to do best again here as his sound jumping will stand him in good stead in this big field. Doing Fine is a threat to all on his second to Rocky Creek at Sandown but he hasn’t won since 2014.
Federici 25-1 (10-13) Mid-division, jumped left and bumped 1st, not much room 11th (foinavon), well beaten after 3 out, 6th of 17, 33l behind As De Mee (11-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Ballyculla (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Not always fluent, held up, mistake 13th, modest 5th 15th, no impression, well beaten 4 out, 5th of 10, dist behind Definitly Red (11-0) at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Straidnahanna (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Always towards rear, tailed off before 12th, 8th of 11, 32 3/4l behind No Duffer (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Carrigdhoun (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) In touch in mid-division leaving start, in rear when in view after 5th, struggling after 9th, pulled up after, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Gonalston Cloud (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, led soon after 2nd, headed 4th, led again 8th headed 10th, prominent, ridden 3 out, driven to lead flat, won at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Amiral Collonges (10-10) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Ballyben (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) In touch, headway before 9th, led before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, edged left from last, headed run-in, no extra, 2nd of 10, 1l behind West Of The Edge (11-1) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Harry The Viking 5-1 (10-6) Left in lead 1st, made rest, pressed from 5 out, drew clear after 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Kelso 4m hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Carrigdhoun (11-4) by 5l, 12 ran.
Raktiman (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 2 out, left 2nd last, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Templehills (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Alto Des Mottes (FR) 28-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place after 3rd, last before 7th, tailed off before 3 out, soon pulled up, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Newton Thistle 6-1 (11-12) Led until after st, chased leader, led again 8th, went right 10th, headed 3 out, chased leading pair, weakened quickly, behind and pulled up approaching 2 out, at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Jac The Legend 7-2cfav (11-2) Chased leaders, hit 5th mistake 10th, ridden after 12th, weakened approaching 14th, tailed off 15th, soon pulled up, at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Itstimeforapint (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden before last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Total Assets (10-9) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Fill The Power (IRE) 13-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, lost place 8th, ridden 12th, outpaced 4 out, 7th of 10, 8l behind Gonalston Cloud (11-12) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Scotswell 7-2jfav (11-9) Led, headed 3 out, ridden before last, faded run-in, 3rd of 9, 17 3/4l behind Total Assets (10-9) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Doing Fine (IRE) 7-2fav (10-8) Held up and behind, steady headway tracking leaders approaching 19th, went 2nd run-in, stayed on towards finish, just held, 2nd of 13, nk behind Rocky Creek (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
