held up in rear, well beaten final 3f
tracked leaders, ridden and close up over 4f out, weakened over 3f out
held up towards rear, ridden 4f out, headway over 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, ran on, unable to reach winner
held up in touch, went 2nd 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden 3 lengths clear inside final furlong, driven out
prominent, led 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
prominent, took keen hold, led over 11f out, headed 6f out, lost place over 4f out
mid-division on outside, closed after 3f, led 6f out, headed 5f out, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway on outside 5f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd post
held up in touch, ridden and lost place 8f out, well beaten final 5f
ridden brielfy leaving start, mid-division, closed 7f out, ridden and lost place over 3f out
mid-division on inside, headway over 6f out, ridden in 2nd over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
prominent, took keen hold, lost place 8f out, headway over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong, lost 2nd post
led, headed over 11f out, stayed handy until lost place over 5f out, no impression after
A few of these have been chasing with mixed results. But there is more to come from LIDAR this season judged on his second to Desert Cry at Exeter. He should be approaching peak fitness now and did win a Doncaster bumper in his younger days so the ability is there and he may have more pace nowadays than the once-useful French Opera. Empire Levant, highly tried over hurdles so far this campaign, and habitual front-runner Hazy Tom should ensure there's a good gallop while Empire Levant's trainer also runs Domtaline. Daymar Bay, Kuilsriver and Star In Flight are others to consider in probably the most competitive race on the card.
Bally Lagan (IRE) 3-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, behind when pulled up before last, in a race won by Bill The Lad (10-7) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Barlow (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Led 2nd, went left 6th, not fluent 10th, narrowly headed 11th, chased leaders, still pressing leaders 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, 5th of 9, 30l behind King Edmund (11-12) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Daymar Bay (IRE) 6-4fav (10-6) Mistakes in rear, ridden 4th, struggling 7th, headway under pressure 3 out, kept on to go a never dangerous 2nd near finish, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Christopher Wren (10-11) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Dec.
Domtaline (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear and in touch, chased leaders before 4 out, challenged 2 out, not fluent and every chance last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 7, nk behind Bally Legend (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Dec.
Empire Levant (USA) 33-1 (11-4) Led, mistake and headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, last of 3, 45l behind Annie Power (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) sft.
Escort'men (FR) 14-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, never dangerous, 9th of 13, 16l behind Hawkhill (11-7) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov.
French Opera 16-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, headway 7th, challenged 3 out, headed approaching last, stayed on, held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Eastlake (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Dec.
Hazy Tom (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, weakened before 6 out, last of 7, well behind Off The Ground (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Dec.
Kuilsriver (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked winner, lost place and driven after 4th, behind when mistake and unseated rider next, in a race won by Dolatulo (11-8) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
Lidar (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Led, joined 4 out, headed next, no impression before last, 2nd of 4, 2 3/4l behind Desert Cry (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f grad ch (2) sft in Dec.
Marju King (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Towards rear, mistake 2nd, struggling after 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 12th, in a race won by Buywise (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy, 11 ran.
Rasheed 20-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, headway approaching 4 out, mistake next, weakened 2 out, blundered badly last, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Massena (11-10) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Star In Flight 13-2 (11-0) Led, slow 1st, blundered badly 3rd, ridden and headed 8th, chased winner, blundered 10th, ridden afer 4 out, soon lost 2nd, weakening when mistake 3 out, blundered next, tailed off, 6th of 9, 40l behind Hi George (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gd in Dec.
Graylyn Amber 50-1 (11-5) Led, headed before 5th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by A Shade Of Bay (11-5) at Southwell 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy, 6 ran.
Orang Outan (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Led, headed 9th, chased leader, ridden after 2 out, led before last, held on gamely flat, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Jun beating Ginger's Lad (10-8) by nk, 9 ran.
