chased leaders on outside, went 2nd 4th until 6th, lost place and ridden 8th, rallied for strong pressure 10th, lost place approaching 13th, soon behind
prominent, lost place 3rd, soon behind, tailed off 10th, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, dropped into mid-division after 4th, lost place approaching 10th, well beaten before 4 out
held up in mid-division, headwy after 9th, went prominent next, ridden 4 out, 5th and weakening when mistake 2 out
prominent, mistake 3rd, led 7th, ridden last, headed flat, one pace
led, not fluent 2nd, headed 7th, ridden after 12th, weakened approaching 4 out
in touch in mid-division, closed 6th, ridden and disputing 2nd after 13th, close 3rd when not fluent last, one pace flat
mid-division, not fluent 4th, lost place 7th, headway 10th, 4th and beaten 2 out
in rear, ridden 8th, lost touch before 10th, tailed off 12th, pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, blundered 11th, headway on outside after 13th, challenged last, led flat, driven out
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 12th, well held before 4 out
It was an incident-packed event that RESTEZEN D'ARMOR won at Plumpton last month but Charlie Longsdon's charge looked to be travelling best throughout. An 8lb rise makes life more difficult but that was only his fifth start over fences and he can make further progress. Up To The Mark was making his debut over fences when scoring at Stratford and he's another who should improve though that was a moderate contest and he's 7lb higher. Azulada Bay appeared to appreciate the trip when stepped up to three miles here in November but may just need this after a break while Russian Epic may need the experience on his first run over the bigger obstacles though this isn't the most difficult of starts.
Leamington Lad (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, soon in rear, jumped slow 4th, weakened before 11th, tailed off, last of 5, 39l behind Double The Trouble (11-8) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
The Snail 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, lost place approaching 14th, no impression after, 5th of 9, 22l behind Isn't That Lucky (11-1) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Restezen D'armor (FR) 5-2fav (11-10) Held up, headway 5th, tracked leader next, left in lead 7th, clear 8th, eased flat, comfortably, won at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb beating She's Humble (10-13) by 26l, 6 ran.
Man From Highworth 28-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, soon pushed along, effort approaching last, stayed on well, never reached winner, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Midnight Appeal (11-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Cruchain (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Mid-division, headway when mistake 10th, chased leaders next, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 11, 32l behind Coup Royale (10-10) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Up To The Mark 3-1 (11-2) Led, jumped slowly and headed 2nd, tracked leader, left in lead 10th, clear before last, eased towards finish, won at Stratford 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating The Darling Boy (10-12) by 10l, 6 ran.
Akarshan (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) In touch, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, went 2nd at last, kept on, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Autumm Spirit (10-0) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Shake The Barley (IRE) 15-8fav (11-11) Held up in touch, blundered 6th, took closer order 9th, challenged when blundered 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 3rd of 6, 20l behind Ready Or Not (10-7) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Azulada Bay (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3rd, led next until mistake 6th, led 13th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on well flat, won at Ludlow 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov beating Timpo (11-6) by 2l, 9 ran.
Russian Epic 11-4 (11-7) Prominent, mistakes 5th and 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, 3rd and well held last, 3rd of 6, 20l behind Whispering Jack (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Tyup Pompey (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Led or dispuited lead until headed before 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened after next, 3rd of 4, 34l behind Gentleman Anshan (10-11) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
