held up in rear, mistake 1st and 7th, no impression when not fluent 4 out
chased leaders, jumped right 1st, hampered 3 out, led next, clear flat, comfortably
took keen hold, led 1st, clear after next, not fluent 5th, mistake next, mistake and headed 3 out, soon beaten, well held 5th when blundered and unseated rider last
held up in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent and no impression 4 out, stayed on approaching last, went 3rd flat, no threat
mid-division, not fluent 1st or 2nd, headway 6th, weakened from 4 out, blundered and unseated rider next
led until 1st, chased leader, closed 4 out, led next, headed 2 out, weakened flat
held up in rear, headway before 4 out, challenged next until before last, no impression on winner flat, stayed on same pace
held up, last 5th, not fluent and behind 8th, pulled up before 3 out
Murtys Delight was retained by connections after beating Montaff, who runs earlier on the card, in a seller over hurdles on New Year's Day and could go well if taking to fences. Boss In Boots arrives off the back of a decent run over timber and has won over the larger obstacles so should be thereabouts but the jury is still out on Huntingdon runner-up Missionaire while Sambulando and Diamond Tammy also have plenty to prove. BENEFIQUE ROYALE won off a similar mark over hurdles in 2013 and might be worth another chance having still been in touch when falling two out at Wincanton. Lizzie Kelly's claim is a plus.
Sambulando (FR) 11-2 (10-4) In rear, ridden before 2 out, one pace in 4th before last, 4th of 7, 14l behind Dovils Date (11-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Apr.
Boss In Boots (IRE) 11-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway to challenge 3 out, led next, hard pressed last, headed flat, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Exmoor Mist (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Benefique Royale 4-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, headway 9th, in touch when not fluent 4 out, outpaced before next, disputed 3rd when fell 2 out, in a race won by Pressies Girl (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 4f mares nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 6 ran.
Murtys Delight (IRE) 2-1 (11-1) Jumped right throughout, tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, led 3 out, driven out, won at Fakenham 2m 4f sell hdl (5) sft beating Montaff (10-13) by 4l, 5 ran.
Master Wickham (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, went left 2nd, lost place 5 out, behind from next, pulled up when saddle before 2 out, in a race won by Snowell (11-8) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Missionaire (USA) 13-2 (10-11) Close up in rear, headway to chase winner after 3 out, jumped left next, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Topthorn (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Diamond Tammy (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) In touch in rear, headway 2 out, hit next, kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 11l behind Steel Summit (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Knockyoursocksoff (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, chased leader until after 2nd, soon lost place, weakened quickly after next, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Caracci Apache (10-12) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
