tracked leaders, effort to challenge 2 out, soon ridden, every chance last, stayed on flat, no impression with winner when lost 2nd post
held up in rear, headway under pressure towards stands side rail approaching 2 out, soon ridden, led last, stayed on well flat
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led narrowly next, soon ridden, headed last, kept on flat, regained 2nd post, no impression with winner
led, headed 2 out, one pace before last, no impression flat
mid-division, chased leaders before 2 out, ridden between last 2, kept on same pace, no impression flat
tracked leader, driven 4 out, lost place next, weakened 2 out
mid-division, mistake 3rd, ridden and weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway under pressure on wide outside after 3 out, effort next, soon ridden and one pace, no impression flat
held up towards rear, struggling 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off next
Vodka 'n Tonic has been a big disappointment over hurdles so far. Celestino is in danger of going the same way and is a pound higher than when beaten at Wincanton last time. He also wears a hood for the first time. Kayf Blanco is worth considering, however, as his Wetherby conqueror Beatabout The Bush has won easily again since. MALANOS has been beaten twice at Lingfield since scoring at Leicester in November and is still 6lb higher. But he'll handle the ground better than most and shouldn't be far away.
Carry On Sydney 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, one pace and no impression in 5th at the last, 5th of 10, 10l behind Song Light (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Kayf Blanco 15-8fav (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway 5 out, went 2nd 4 out, led before 3 out, headed last, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Beatabout The Bush (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
A Little Bit Dusty 8-1 (11-9) Towards rear, never troubled leaders, 8th of 11, 23l behind Special Wells (10-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Malanos (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, led, ridden and headed before mistake 2 out, soon beaten, 6th of 10, 16l behind Tealissio (11-10) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Vodka 'n Tonic (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, in 4th before 3 out, one pace, 4th of 9, 42l behind Arzal (10-12) at Kempton 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) sft in Nov.
In The Crowd (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Led to 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 37l behind Assirem (11-3) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Celestino (FR) 5-2 (11-3) Tracked leader, led 2 out, soon headed, no impression on winner last, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Miss Sassypants (11-10) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Smart Catch (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Held up, jumped left at times, pushed along 4th, not fluent 9th, headway before 12th, not fluent 4 out, 3rd and beaten 3 out, weakened into 4th when blundered 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Nodform Richard (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in Jun, 5 ran.
Broughtons Bandit 8-1 (10-4) Raced wide, held up, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Saffron Prince (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan.
