held up in rear, headway 11th, lost place 13th, well held from 4 out
chased leaders, mistake and reminder 3rd, mistake next, blundered 7th, some headway when not fluent 4 out, blundered 2 out, never able to get near leaders, not fluent last
jumped left, led, not fluent 2nd, headed 3 out, weakened last
held up in rear, blundered 3rd, mistake 7th, headway on outside after 13th, mistake and hampered 4 out, blundered 2 out, went 3rd last, no impression on front pair
towards rear, ridden 10th, headway 3 out, disputing 3rd last, one pace
chased leader, jumped left at times, mistake 12th, led 3 out, not fluent 2 out, pressed last, driven flat, held on well
chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, lost place 6th, closed 12th, went left and baulked 4 out, mistake 2 out, no extra in 5th last
tracked leaders, blundered 13th, went left 3 out, chased winner 2 out, every chance last, held close home
mid-division, headway 5th, pressing leaders when fell 4 out
Secret Door was a winner over hurdles on soft ground here last year. She makes her chasing bow on a lower mark than her rating over timber and will be a danger to all if she takes to fences. But we are loathe to desert DARK MAHLER, who is surely capable of further improvement after sauntering to victory over 2m here in November. He’s had just the four starts under Rules and stayed 3m between the flags. Megabucks has won two point-to-points so the switch to the larger obstacles shouldn’t be a problem while Wandrin Star was better over course and distance last month. Free Range is fitted with cheekpieces after disappointing at Market Rasen while Old Salt and Volt Face also need to improve on recent efforts.
Secret Door (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Keen, soon prominent, led 4th, headed approaching 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 8, 7 3/4l behind Awesome Rosie (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Volt Face (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Raced wide, chased leaders, hit 8th, mistake and pulled up 10th, at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Wandrin Star (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, headway after 13th, never on terms, went 4th flat, 4th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Hogan's Height (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f (3) gs in Dec.
Free Range (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, outpaced next, weakened 2 out, 4th of 10, 30 3/4l behind Kimberlite Candy (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Old Salt (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Held up well off the pace in rear, jumped slowly 3rd (water), plugged on into modest 3rd at the last, 3rd of 8, 24l behind Lake Field (10-10) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Hey Bill (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, not fluent 9th or 11th, headway 12th, 4th and beaten from 3 out, 4th of 8, 13l behind Powerful Symbol (11-5) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Dark Mahler (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Left chasing clear leader 1st, mistake 8th, closed next, led after 3 out, clear from next, stayed on, won at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Legal Ok (11-7) by 14l, 7 ran.
Megabucks (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, led 3 out, headed 2 out, lost 2nd last, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 15, 7 1/4l behind Knocknamona (10-0) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Farm The Rock (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Tracked winner, fell 11th, at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
