led, pecked 1st, blundered 2nd, mistake 6th, headed when hit 3 out, soon weakened, blundered 2 out
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, went 2nd when hit last, hung right flat, stayed on
held up towards rear, mistake 7th, 7th when hit and hampered 2 out, stayed on approaching last, switched left after flat, soon went 3rd, nearest finish
mid-division, headway 6th, took narrow lead when fell 2 out
prominent, went 2nd 6th, led 3 out, headed and left close 2nd 2 out, weakened flat
raced keenly, tracked leader to 6th, remained prominent, beaten when pecked 2 out, 5th when fell last
in touch on outside, weakening when mistake 9th, soon well behind, tailed off
in touch, raced keenly, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake 8th, headway and left 4th when hampered 2 out, one pace
mid-division, mistake 4th, ridden and rear 9th, struggling after
always prominent, raced keenly, left in lead 2 out, hung right flat, stayed on under pressure
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, soon weakened, hampered by loose horse 2 out
Nonrunner
A modest event can go the way of RUSSIAN FLAG, who edges preference over Thievery and Mongororno. The last named has claims on the best of his form and, having been given a chance by the handicapper, he is no forlorn hope despite being yet to win over fences. Still, he stays well and, as he acts with cut in the ground, he should be able to cope on the ground. Thievery has won a couple of 'egg and spoon' races and bids for the hat trick off just a 6lb higher mark today. The lack of strength in depth leaves him with a solid chance and he appears to be the main threat to the selection. Still, Russian Flag comes here on the back of a rock-solid effort at Newbury nine days ago and is expected to set the standard if he is in the same frame of mind today.
Pret A Thou (FR) 5-1 (10-4) Tracked leader from 4th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Lorient Express (11-4) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs.
Russian Flag (FR) 6-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 8th, led 3 out, headed flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Classic Role (11-12) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Mongorno (FR) 10-3 (11-8) Held up, blundered 3rd, lost place from 8th, 7th of 8, 28l behind Amble Forge (10-7) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Nov.
Silver Adonis (IRE) 18-1 (11-9) In rear, headway 4 out, soon driven and weakened, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Heavenly Chorus (11-3) at Catterick 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd, 10 ran.
Benitez (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Led, headed briefly 5th, headed 12th, mistake 3 out, soon hung left, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Pacco (11-9) at Chepstow 2m 3f cnd hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Viable 8-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 17, 22l behind Three Thieves (11-2) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Turbo Shandy 12-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 2 out, headed, close up when fell at the last in race won by Kilmeena Magic (10-9) at Kempton 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gd in Nov, 18 ran.
Knock Boy (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, raced keenly, headway 6th, went 2nd before 9th until after 2 out, weakened on long run to last, 8th of 15, well behind Prince of Persia (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Thievery 10-11fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway 4 out, switched left approaching 2 out, went 2nd last, ran on under pressure to lead towards finish, won at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Nov beating Glimmer of Light (10-4) by 1/2l, 8.
Majy D'auteuil (FR) 12-1 (9-13) Mid-division, headway 9th, kept on same pace from 3 out, 5th of 12, 8l behind By George (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Laharna 10-1 (12-0) Went 3rd 15; cl 4th 2 out; sn wknd; unseated rider in race won by Mid Div And Creep (11-7) at Fakenham 3m ptp gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Zorro De La Vega (FR) 11-1 (10-12) Towards rear, hit 4 out, headway approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 10, 34l behind Cybora (10-9) at Leicester 2m 4f chs 0-90 (5) gd in Nov.
Ground Breaker 12-1 (10-10) Prominent, lost place before 3rd, soon well in rear, tailed off when pulled up at the 7th in race won by Young Tot (11-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct, 15 ran.
