chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, outpaced 2 out, hit last, kept on run-in, no impression
held up in touch and keen, went 2nd before 3 out, soon challenged, weakened after 2 out
held up mid-division, ridden and headway before 3 out, no extra from last
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace from last
held up towards rear, headway to go mid-division 5th, chased leaders before 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, kept on, no impression
tracked leaders and keen on outer, ridden and weakened before 3 out
close up, led before 7th, clear approaching last, kept on well, pushed out
held up towards rear and keen, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
held up behind, weakened before 4 out, blundered and unseated rider 2 out
held up in rear, headway on outer before 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out
behind, struggling from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
close up, pushed along and weakened before 3 out
led, headed before 7th, weakened before 3 out
mid-division on outer, fell 4th
mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden before next, soon weakened
China Gold looked very promising when scoring at Chepstow in April 2009 but hasn't been seen since disappointing a month later. He's probably capable of better and makes his handicap debut from a fair mark. Alan King also runs Wild Desert, who is having only his fifth start over hurdles but is the choice of Choc Thornton. PHOENIX FLIGHT has won five times on the Flat and has shown promise over timber, particularly when a good fourth at Ascot in October. He's also gone close on a couple of occasions on the all-weather and looks ready to gain his first success over hurdles. Montoya's Son, the winner of a novices' event at Hexham in May, looked well suited to 2m4f when runner-up to Icy Colt at Wetherby in October and has plenty of scope though he's by no means leniently treated for his handicap bow.
Mac Aeda 10-1 (11-8) Mid-division, ridden after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Grafite (11-1) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 17 ran.
Montoya's Son (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 6th, chased winner from 3 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Icy Colt (10-5) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
The Panama Kid (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, weakened 4 out, 6th of 9, 44l behind Hazeldene (10-1) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Burnt Oak (UAE) 14-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 36l behind Nine Stories (11-8) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
China Gold 7-2 (11-5) Held up, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace, 5th of 14, 12l behind Factotum (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May '09.
Irish Symphony (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) With leader, led approaching 5th, headed approaching next, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Exulto (11-4) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
Wild Desert (FR) 25-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, challenged upsides and every chance 3 out, blundered 2 out, weakened flat, 8th of 19, 11l behind Devil To Pay (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Pie At Midnight 20-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, hit 3 out, soon pushed along and weakened, 5th of 9, 27l behind Attaglance (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Crop Walker (IRE) 9-1 (10-5) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 21, 21l behind Kangaroo Court (10-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec '08.
Takaatuf (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders and keen, in 3rd and going well approaching 3 out, weakening when hit 2 out, 13th of 15, 35l behind Altan Khan (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
King Killone (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Ref to race, in a race won by Le Seychellois (12-0) at Tabley 3m ptp gs in Apr, 6 ran.
Helieorbea 9-4 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place 5th, mistake 2 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd post, no impression on winner, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Big Talk (10-6) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Melange (USA) 16-1 (10-12) Led, blundered 3 out, headed narrowly when hit 2 out, hung left flat, no extra, 5th of 15, 6l behind Sonara (10-0) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
Veronicas Boy 80-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, lost place 9f out, soon behind, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Recession Proof (11-0) at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Himrayn 14-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 21l behind Swiss Art (11-8) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Phoenix Flight (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Behind, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on well, never troubled leaders, 4th of 16, 6l behind Like A Hurricane (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Helens Vision 8-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, reminders after 7th, soon lost place tailed off from 9th, 10th of 12, well behind Bellflower Boy (11-3) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Dec.
