mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, pushed along 5th, headway after next, chased leaders 8th, weakened after omitted 2 out
led until after 1st, remained prominent, led again after 3 out, hard ridden, stayed on well (last 2 hurdles omitted)
chased leaders, lost place approaching 7th, soon beaten
tracked leader, led 5 out, headed after 3 out, wandered under pressure after omitted last, kept on well under pressure
held up in rear, mistake 1st, soon pushed along in rear, some late headway, never dangerous
mid-division, driven 4 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, effort after 3 out, stayed on same pace
mid-division, mistake 4 out, headway next, never nearer
led after 1st, mistake 8th, headed 5 out, weakened after next
in touch, headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, broke down and pulled up 5th
STRICTLYADANCER had shown virtually nothing over much shorter before landing a touch over this trip at Fakenham where the extra clearly suited. He's only been raised 5lb and though runner-up Todd should get a bit closer he had every chance and doesn't appear likely to turn the tables. Mead Vale's Taunton victory came over an extended 2m so he has much further to travel here but Three Star General stays the trip and has dropped to a mark he should be winning from soon. Supakalanistic won at Southwell around this time last year and is on a lower mark here so could go well at a fair price.
Dancing Doug (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, blundered 4 out, soon lost place and beaten, went 3rd near finish, 3rd of 5, dist behind Seven De Baune (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f (4) gd in Nov.
Three Star General 3-1 (11-9) Raced wide, held up in last trio, headway chasing leaders approaching 6th, went 2nd after 3 out, pushed along and no impression before next, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Potters Hedger (12-1) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Supakalanistic (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Held up, took keen hold, not fluent 8th, not clear run on inside after 4 out, headway before next, went 4th flat, no impression on leaders, 4th of 9, 7 1/4l behind Muthabir (10-8) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Sinakar (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) In rear, ridden 7th, pulled up before 4 out, at Hereford 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Mead Vale 14-1 (11-2) Chased winner, well held and no impression before 2 out, lost 2nd at the last, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Cloudy Glen (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Todd 7-2 (11-11) Close up, ridden and every chance 3 out, slightly outpaced next, rallied and stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Strictlyadancer (10-9) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Boher Lad (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden after bypassing 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 11, 16 3/4l behind The Lion Man (10-0) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gd in May.
Taking A Chance (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Mid-division, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 9, 19 3/4l behind The Crazed Moon (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Strictlyadancer (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Held up, headway and close up 7th, hampered 3 out, chased leader next, ridden to lead before omitted last, ran on, won at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jan beating Todd (11-11) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Miss Mayfair (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Disputed lead hit 7th, headed 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 7, dist behind Strong Resemblance (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Red Admirable (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, chased winner when hit 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace from next, hit last, 3rd of 7, 21l behind Strong Resemblance (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Mr Bachster (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Led until 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 6th of 9, 32 1/4l behind Zamoyski (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
