in touch, headway 8th, effort 3 out, one paced next
held up towards rear, headway to go 2nd 3 out, soon ridden and kept on same pace
tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, ridden next , stayed on well
held up, headway to lead after 2nd, headed approaching 3 out, weakened between last 2
led to 1st, remained in touch, pushed along 5 out, effort 3 out, soon one paced
in touch, mistake 10th, ridden 3 out, no impression
towards rear, struggling 4 out, soon behind
held up in rear, fell 6th
led 1st, headed after 2nd, dropped rear 7th, soon behind, pulled up before last
A few of these have questions to answer but Blandfords Gunner won at Leicester in December on just his second start over the larger obstacles while Sunny Ledgend is on a hat-trick after victories at Towcester and Market Rasen. There are possibilities, too, about the consistent Bodega while Fairy Rath has his sights lowered a little and only he and Helium have won around here in the past. MINELLA DEFINITELY is starting to come down the weights and would have a chance in a race like this on the form he showed at Wincanton and Kempton around this time last year.
Helium (FR) 7-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, hampered and left 2nd briefly 7th, weakened 4 out, left 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 6, 22l behind Wings Of Smoke (11-7) at Taunton 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Blandfords Gunner 7-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led after next, ridden and kept on well flat, won at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gd in Dec beating Moscow Me (10-10) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Fairy Rath (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, headway to track leaders after 6th, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 9, 20 1/2l behind Johnny Og (10-8) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Legal Exit (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Led, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, dist behind Bouvreuil (10-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) sft in Jan.
Minella Definitely (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Tracked leader to 6th, outpaced approaching 4 out, 4th of 9, 20 1/4l behind Quite By Chance (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
The Clock Leary (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Led, not fluent 3rd, headed before 10th, lost place 12th, pulled up after 3 out, at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Sunny Ledgend 8-1 (11-8) Made all, pressed from 3 out, kept on well , driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Thinger Licht (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Bodega 5-2jfav (11-2) Held up behind, pushed along 6th, went 4th 4 out, ridden after next, never reached leaders, stayed on to take modest 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 17l behind King Of Glory (10-10) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Lord Lir (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Led until 5th, lost place 8th, well beaten 3 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 5, 19l behind Vision Des Champs (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
