close up on outside, reminders 6th, struggling 12th, weakened 5 out, soon tailed off and pulled up
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced before 4 out, weakened from next
chased winner to 12th, not fluent next, driven and outpaced before 4 out, soon ridden, 10 lengths down in 3rd when blundered 2 out, no chance with front pair
held up in touch on inside, headway 5 out, soon chased winner, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression
not fluent and soon niggled along in rear, reminders after 10th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up after 5 out
jumped well, made all, 4 lengths clear last, ridden out flat
held up in touch, blundered 11th, soon struggling, tailed off 5 out
close up on inside, chased winner 12th, mistake 5 out, soon lost place, outpaced next, well beaten in 4th when blundered 2 out
Nonrunner
Nelliedonethat won easily over a shorter trip here last month but is now an 11-year-old and has never gone close to winning off a mark this high in the past. Stablemate Go Silver Bullet doesn't look the force of old while Elzahann has something to prove now having jumped poorly and been pulled up at Doncaster two weeks ago. Fiftyfive Degrees also looks out of form, while Zitenka has two ways of running though is well treated on his best form. Mill Side and Logans Run could go well at the top of the handicap but are conceding a lot of weight to FESTIVAL KING, who has a decent record on this course and put in a terrific round of jumping when winning at Ayr 11 days ago. Though burdened with a 7lb penalty today, the nine-year-old may still be a step ahead of the assessor.
Mill Side 6-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, headway to chase leaders again 11th, weakened 15th, stumbled badly next, mistake 17th, behind when blundered 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Sarde (11-2) at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Logans Run (IRE) 5-4fav (10-12) Tracked leader, not fluent 7th, driven to challenge after 3 out, led between last 2, soon ridden, held on under pressure flat, won at Hexham 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in May beating Diavoleria (10-2) by 1l, 5 ran.
Zitenka (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 48l behind General Hardi (10-11) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Go Silver Bullet (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Close up, lost place 4th, mid-division, weakened from 5 out, 5th of 8, 30l behind Tyrone House (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Jan.
Elzahann (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, hit 7th, soon reminders, pulled up before 10th, in a race won by Mostly Bob (11-12) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gd in Jan, 11 ran.
Dark Ben (FR) 9-2 (10-1) Led to 2nd, tracked leader, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 4th of 8, 23l behind King Fontaine (11-2) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Fiftyfive Degrees (IRE) 5-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, chased leaders from 6th, lost place and reminders before 9th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Cavers Glen (10-10) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Nelliedonethat (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Jumped left at some fences, chased leader, led 6th until after 8th, led again 9th, clear after 12th, stayed on strongly, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Jan beating Guns And Butter (11-11) by 15l, 9 ran.
Festival King (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Led from 1st, made rest, ridden clear before last, kept on well, won at Ayr 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jan beating Lahib The Fifth (11-5) by 5l, 12 ran.
