held up towards rear, headway after 17th, ridden well before last, soon one pace
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, good headway after 17th, led soon after last, ridden and no extra when headed near finish
in touch, ridden when fell 15th
hit 1st, jumped slowly 2nd, towards rear, rapid headway after 9th to press leaders, ridden after 13th, weakened before last
mid-division, headway 17th, soon ridden, stayed on to go 3rd flat
mid-division, struggling when hampered 15th, soon behind
mid-divison until after 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 13th
jumped right, led, ridden and headed approaching last, weakened flat
mid-division, headway and mistake 16th, soon ridden, not much room on bypassed 2 out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, steady headway from 12th, close up and travelling well when blundered and unseated rider 15th
in touch, losing place when mistake 10th and 11th, tailed off when pulled up before last
in touch, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on again approaching last
chased leaders, ridden after 17th, kept on same pace
chased leaders until 9th, soon in rear, pulled up before last
towards rear, smooth headway from 15th, led approaching last, headed flat, rallied gamely to lead near finish
chased leaders, weakening when blundered 17th
always towards rear
The in-form Flintoff has been transformed by blinkers and can get one over on elder rivals Tikram and Fork Lightning, while Pass Me By, who is fitted with blinkers for the first time today, is another to monitor closely in the betting. Pass Me By - winner of the Sussex National - is dropping in trip though but should have very few issues on that score. Of more concern would be his 9lb rise in the weights, so it may be best to gauge the confidence of the betting market before taking the plunge with him. Fork Lightning has not really stood much racing since his Cheltenham Festival success of 2004 but his latest start indicated that he still retains enthusiasm for the game. He has won off higher marks in the past and is definite for the shortlist in this company. As is Tikram, who holds a similar profile in that he has been given a chance at the weights and goes well at this time of year. He will be suited by the stiff finish and will be a big threat if he is on song. However, Venetia Williams has really found the key to Flintoff and, even though he is rising in the weights, there still looks to be untapped potential in the son of Diesis now that he has his confidence on the boil.
Hoo La Baloo (FR) 3-1fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway 9th, every chance 2 out, not quicken flat, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Kenzo III (9-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.
Kelami (FR) 18-1 (10-12) Mid-division, mistake 15th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, 9th of 18, 28l behind Billyvoddan (10-12) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec.
Tikram 14-1 (10-8) In touch, ridden after 4 out, hit 3 out, stayed on to go 4th, run-in, 4th of 12, 10l behind Exotic Dancer (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Napolitain (FR) 33-1 (10-5) Behind, under pressure 13th, mistake 16th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by State of Play (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov, 16 ran.
Flintoff (USA) 7-2 (11-6) Mistake 1st, hit 2nd, in touch, went 2nd, led after 3 out, soon clear, unchallenged from next, won at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan beating Ice Melted (11-2) by 14l, 8 ran.
Briery Fox (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up, weakened 15th, mistake last, 4th of 6, well behind Tamarinbleu (11-0) at Ascot 2m 5f chs (2) gs in Dec.
Iron Man (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway 13th, close 2nd when mistake and unseated rider at the 15th in race won by Maletton (11-3) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Kasthari (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Led to 4th, outpaced from 9th, never dangerous after, 3rd of 5, well behind Monet's Garden (11-7) at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Fork Lightning (IRE) 11-4 (11-1) Jumped right, made most to 13th, regained lead 17th to 4 out, stayed challenging, wandered 2 out, close up, weakened under pressure, 3rd of 4, 7l behind Cornish Rebel (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Jan.
Lord Killeshanra (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) With leader when fell in race won by Maletton (11-3) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Turthen (FR) 10-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 17th, effort 3 out, weakened after next, 6th of 12, 21l behind Kerstino Two (11-0) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Jan.
Latimer's Place 7-1 (11-10) Led until 9th, chased leaders, hit 17th and lost place, soon ridden, hit 3 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 12, 11l behind Kerstino Two (11-0) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Jan.
Nitrat (FR) 20-1 (11-6) Towards rear, ridden and struggling 19th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Tana River (11-5) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Yardbird (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) In touch, headway to track leader 4 out, chased winner 3 out, driven and chance last, found no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Alderburn (11-6) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Pass Me By 8-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, led approaching 16th, ran on gamely, won at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan beating Zimbabwe (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Rambling Minster 5-2 (10-0) Held up, headway 16th, went 2nd before 2 out, 12 lengths down last, ridden, stayed on well, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Ever Present (10-10) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
Florida Dream (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Made all, jumped right throughout, clear from last, won at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec beating All Sonsilver (9-9) by 12l, 11 ran.
Supreme Catch (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Held up in touch, lost action and pulled up 4 out in race won by Black Hills (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan, 7 ran.
