held up towards rear, not fluent 1st or 5th, hit 6th, blundered and unseated rider 8th
mid-division, hit 2nd, mistake 8th, headway next, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place 12th, weakened 4 out
in rear after being hampered after 1st, hit next, behind when pecked 4 out
tracked leaders until something amiss and pulled up after 1st
held up towards rear, steady headway from 7th, challenged 3 out, soon led, driven out
held up in rear, headway 13th, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on flat, just failed to grab 4th
in touch, hit 6th, not much room and lost place next, blundered 8th, behind 11th, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, pressing for 2nd when jumped right last, edged left and stayed on flat, unable to get to winner
tracked leader, every chance 3 out, stayed on under pressure, no impression on winner flat, no extra in 3rd close home
tracked leaders, lost place approaching 8th, hit 10th, not fluent 12th, no impression when pecked 4 out
held up in rear, fell 3rd
tracked leaders, lost place 3rd, headway 13th, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression before next
led, pecked 4 out, headed after 3 out, weakened flat
Ghizao was never really travelling when sixth in a similar contest over C&D last month and will need to jump better to get competitive today. He also has a bit to find to overturn that running with CALGARY BAY, who has a very decent record on this track. It's more than two years since Henrietta Knight's nine-year-old last visited the winner's circle but he's fairly treated now as a result and will be staying one here when others have cried enough. Crescent Island was just caught at Newbury last time but third Hector's Choice should get closer on more favourable terms today and just as interesting is the novice Duke Of Lucca, who is progressing nicely and potentially well handicapped on his hurdles form. The Nightingale and Hell's Bay had smart form last season but may be too high in the weights at present while Renard's winning run came to an end at Ascot last time and is 5lb wrong in the weights here.
The Nightingale (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Held up towards rear in touch when fell 5th, in a race won by Gauvain (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Hell's Bay (FR) 6-4fav (11-7) Held up in touch, jumped left 5th, stumbled 12th, pulled up after next, in a race won by Aerial (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f chs (2) sft in Dec, 6 ran.
Ghizao (GER) 17-2 (11-2) Mid-division when mistake and dropped towards rear 3rd, hampered 4 out, headway on outside before next, effort 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression approaching last, 6th of 16, 13l behind Quantitativeeasing (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec.
Crescent Island (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, not fluent 10th, led 11th, ridden after 4 out, stayed on, headed close home, 2nd of 14, nk behind Chance Du Roy (11-4) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Hidden Keel 12-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, chased leader 10th to 4 out, ridden and outpaced after next, no impression from 2 out, 4th of 8, 19l behind Gauvain (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Calgary Bay (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Held up behind, blundered 10th, chased leaders 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 5th of 16, 12l behind Quantitativeeasing (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec.
Cape Tribulation 10-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, blundered badly 4th, pulled up before 6th, in a race won by Cannington Brook (10-9) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
Duke Of Lucca (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Chased leader, led after 4th, made rest, in command when left well clear 2 out, won at Wincanton 2m 5f beg chs (4) gs in Dec beating Webberys Dream (10-9) by 27l, 9 ran.
Hector's Choice (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, closed 7th, close 3rd when mistake 2 out, no impression on leading pair after last, 3rd of 14, 6l behind Chance Du Roy (11-4) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Matuhi 16-1 (10-3) Towards rear, mistake 4th, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 10th of 16, 37l behind Quantitativeeasing (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec.
Micheal Flips (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, 5th and no impression when mistake 2 out, went modest 4th before last, 4th of 6, 20l behind Zaynar (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f nov chs Grade 2 (1) sft in Dec.
Havingotascoobydo (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, took closer order on outside 6th, headway when hampered and left in lead 4 out, headed before 2 out, ridden and stayed on under pressure flat, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Astracad (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Dec.
Renard (FR) 3-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, under pressure 7th, soon outpaced, rallied 3 out, chased winner approaching last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 10, 3l behind King Edmund (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Dec.
Pickamus (FR) 10-3 (11-11) Led, hit 8th, headed 4 out, tracked leader, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 5, 34l behind Qianshan Leader (10-13) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
