tracked leaders early, soon towards rear, tailed off 4 out, went remote 4th 3 out, never dangerous
tracked leader, led 8th, headed before 10th, mistake 5 out, led 4 out, ridden and headed before last, soon lost 2nd place, no extra
held up in rear, mistake 7th, weakened from 9th, tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, chased winnner from before last, hit 2 out, kept on and no impression
in rear, soon tracked leaders in 3rd, challenged 2 out, led before last and pecked, kept on well
led to 8th, led again before 10th, headed 4 out, weakened and lost remote 3rd when jumped right 3 out, pulled up before last
Notabotheronme has a decent record here so can't be ignored despite being pulled up over C&D last time and earlier at Uttoxeter. Massini Sunset needs to bounce back from a disappointing run at Wincanton but is also a C&D winner and makes more appeal than fellow veteran Kinkeel, who is 5lb wrong in the weights. Loughalder has never looked like winning a race so far but did at least manage to complete at Hereford last time in a race in which the mare Derwen Pryde was struggling when falling just after halfway. AVEC MOI CE SOIR is a 10-year-old maiden and was tailed off on his chasing bow at Wincanton. But this is a very modest handicap and, with Joe Tizzard taking over the reins, it would be no surprise if he improved past these given he raced against decent opposition in bumpers and over hurdles.
Notabotheronme (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, mistake and dropped to rear at 3rd, struggling 7th, soon lost touch, left poor 5th 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Desperate Dex (11-8) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Nov, 6 ran.
Massini Sunset (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Ran in snatches and tended to jump left, chased leading pair, lost 3rd at 9th, chased leading trio, reminders before 15th, strugging after, tailed off 17th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Goring One (10-8) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec, 5 ran.
Avec Moi Ce Soir (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) In rear, weakened 5 out, tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind Rolling Aces (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (3) hvy in Dec.
Derwen Pryde 14-1 (11-1) In touch, lost place 11th, fell next, in a race won by Ukrainian Star (11-11) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
Loughalder (IRE) 11-2 (10-4) Held up in rear, hit 9th and ridden, mistake 15th, went 4th and blundered 4 out, went modest 3rd before 3 out, never any chance with leading duo, 3rd of 7, 20l behind Ukrainian Star (11-11) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec.
Kinkeel (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, disputed 3rd and in touch when fell 3 out, in a race won by Topaze Collonges (11-11) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec, 8 ran.
