held up in mid-division, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
always rear-division, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next
off the pace towards rear, bit closer in mid-division after 4 out, no further headway
raced on inside, made most until before 5th, lost place slightly next, rallied before 3 out where every chance, ridden and weakened run-in
in touch, good headway chasing leaders 5th, went 2nd next, led before 3 out until ridden between last two, no extra in 3rd run-in
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, led between last two, over 1 length ahead last, shaken up and stayed on strongly run-in
held up towards rear, steady headway 3 out, chased leaders before next, went 2nd and stayed on same pace run-in, no chance with winner
raced on inside, chased leaders, chance when slightly impeded 3 out, ridden before next, soon outpaced, plugged on again run-in
headway and closer in mid-division after 4 out, chased leaders before 3 out where mistake, weakened before next, pulled up after 2 out
chased leaders, every chance 3 out, mistake and weakened next
raced wide tracking leader, led before 5th, headed and weakened before 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
off the pace and always towards rear, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next
NonRunner
Zertakt has won three times on very testing going in France including a lucrative handicap at Auteuil in June. He's only five and looks a cracking addition to Venetia Williams' team. Top Target, a winning point-to-pointer, landed a novice hurdle at Wetherby before beaten when odds-on at Wincanton though this can go to OSCAR THYNE. A winner over hurdles and fences in Ireland, he was returning from over 500 days off when an excellent third in a Cheltenham handicap in November and his yard continues in fine form. Mr Muldoon is up 8lb for a comfortable victory in slightly lesser grade at Chepstow but Midnight Ginger has only been raised 3lb for scoring at this level at Newbury and looks a threat. There are plenty of others with chances in a tight-looking handicap.
Zertakt (FR) (10-13) won at Auteuil 2m 2f hcp sft in Jun beating Ideal Du Chenet (10-13) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Breffniboy (FR) 9-1 (11-9) Tracked leading trio, lost place and behind at 4th, soon ridden and no response after next, tailed off and pulled up 4 out, at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Charles Ritz 7-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out, 4th and no extra between last two, 5th of 8, 8l behind Jerrash (11-2) at Ascot 2m 6f (3) sft in Jan.
Top Target (IRE) 4-6fav (11-9) Jumped left on occasion, led, increased tempo before 8th, jumped badly left and joined 9th, headed next, ran around approaching 2 out, edged left last, ridden and rallied briefly flat, kept on one pace final 110yds, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind I Shut That D'or (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) gs in Jan.
Oscar Thyne (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Off the pace towards rear, headway chasing leaders 2 out, stayed on run-in, went never nearer 3rd final strides, 3rd of 18, 5l behind Sweet Will (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Kings Keeper (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3 out, soon pressed leaders, ridden after 2 out, kept on, no extra run-in, 3rd of 11, 9 1/4l behind Can You Call (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Yes No Maybe So (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, led before 3rd until before 4 out, chased leaders, weakened quickly next, 8th of 9, 31 3/4l behind Forever William (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Midnight Ginger 8-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd briefly after 4 out, challenged going well before 2 out, led after 2 out, ridden and stayed on gamely run-in, won at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Lime Drop (11-5) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Gris Majeur (FR) 8-1 (11-13) In rear, hit 2nd, last and ridden entering home straight, soon beaten, last of 8, 13 1/2l behind Rewired (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Mount Tempest (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Close up, ridden 2 out, faded flat, 5th of 13, 12 1/4l behind Gardener (11-0) at Leicester 2m (3) hvy in Dec.
Jazz King (FR) 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along when blundered 2 out, lost all chance, 3rd of 5, 13 1/4l behind Unanswered Prayers (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) gs in Mar.
Ballyellis (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, mistakes, lost place 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 12l behind Native Fighter (10-12) at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Mr Muldoon (IRE) 40-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, led 3 out, mostly clear after, stayed on strongly, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Pepe Le Moko (10-13) by 5 1/2l, 11 ran.
