in touch when fell 9th
held up towrds rear, blundered 13th, soon no impression
led until 8th, remained prominent, led again 4 out, soon hard pressed and strongly driven, headed approaching last, no extra
raced in rear, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, ridden to lead after 2 out, stayed on strongly
held up in touch, under pressure 16th, weakened before 3 out
mid-division, headway 13th, chased leaders 4 out, weakened after next
behind, mistake 3rd, fell 7th
mid-division, mistake 14th, effort before 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, lost place 7th, soon behind, pulled up after 15th
held up in rear, under pressure 14th, pulled up after next
chased leaders, lost place before 10th, soon struggling, behind when pulled up before 16th
with leader, led 8th, headed 4 out, soon under pressure, weakened before 2 out
in rear when unseated rider 1st
mid-division, jumped slowly 10th, tailed off 14th, behind when pulled up before 16th
Master Overseer and The Ferbane Man are prolific winners but the former makes his first appearance since landing this contest 12 months ago off a 6lb lower mark while the latter hasn't raced since July. Peut Etre Sivola beat Kawagino and Pass Me By in the Southern National at Fontwell in November but was then pulled up in a race over 4m at Exeter in which Minella Boys finished third. Whataboutya could figure if he manages to stay on his feet but more reliable is REBEL MELODY, who comes here at the top of his game and is only 2lb higher than when runner-up to Rey Nacarado over a slightly shorter trip here last month. He should confirm that form with the third Deep Pockets and can return to winning ways.
Hunters Ploy (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Led, hit 9th, joined from 4 out, headed 3 out, soon weakened, left remote 4th last, 4th of 5, 37l behind Hey Big Spender (11-10) at Carlisle 3m grad ch (2) hvy in Nov.
Kawagino (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Close up, not fluent 16th, ridden 2 out, chased winner approaching last, plugged on, always held, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Peut Etre Sivola (10-4) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
Master Overseer (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Prominent, went 2nd approaching 16th, led 3 out, headed last, rallied to regain lead towards finish, won at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan '10 beating Tarquinius (11-1) by hd, 12 ran.
Minella Boys (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Led to after 2nd, not much room and mistake 4th, in touch, outpaced 4 out, kept on same pace from next, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 12, 22l behind C'monthehammers (11-10) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
The Ferbane Man (IRE) 10-11fav (11-5) Not fluent early stages, tracked leader, mistake 8th, switched to inside and driven after 3 out, soon challenging, upsides last, driven ahead flat, held on, won at Southwell 3m nov chs (4) gf in Jul beating Chevy To The Levy (10-12) by hd, 6 ran.
Peut Etre Sivola (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Mid-division on inside, struggling after 9th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out, in a race won by C'monthehammers (11-10) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec, 12 ran.
Cullahill (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) In touch on outside, one pace when hit 11th, ridden and hit 3 out, one pace and no impression soon after, 6th of 17, 22l behind Fine Parchment (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) gd in Dec.
Martys Mission (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) In touch in mid-division, headway 11th, close up after 16th, no impression on leaders after 2 out, one pace, 5th of 13, 8l behind West End Rocker (11-11) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Dec.
Theophrastus (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Mid-division, bad mistake 7th, mistake 11th, struggling next, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 12, well behind Bobby Gee (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Whataboutya (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Held up in 5th, headway to chase leading pair 3 out, effort last, soon ridden, rallied flat, held near finsh, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Roseneath (11-3) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Nov.
Pass Me By 20-1 (10-8) Led, jumped mostly right throughtout, headed after 9th, led again 12th, headed 14th, mistake 4 out, soon ridden, plugged on from 3 out, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Peut Etre Sivola (10-4) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
Rebel Melody (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Led, mistake and headed 4th, led again 6th, ridden and headed 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Rey Nacarado (11-6) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Deep Pockets (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, hard driven and outpaced before 13th, headway 3 out, stayed on to chase leaders approaching 2nd last, never able to challenge, 3rd of 12, 7l behind Rey Nacarado (11-6) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Noble Bily (FR) 20-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 2nd, headway 5th, blundered 7th, ridden 4 out, soon struggling, stayed on flat, 5th of 12, 32l behind Mud Monkey (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
