always in last trio, never on terms
in touch in 5th, headway to 3rd and mistake 8th, went 2nd before next, no chance with winner when lost 2nd between last 2, weakened soon after
chased leaders, reminders after 5th and next, blundered and lost 3rd at 8th, soon lost place and in rear, tailed off when blundered 10th, pulled up before next
chased leaders, headway to 3rd at 12th, went 2nd and rider dropped whip between last 2, kept on but no chance with winnner
always behind, blundered and struggling 12th, never on terms
held up in last trio, headway before 2 out, stayed on to 3rd before last, no impression
led, clear from 3 out, ridden before next, stayed on well
chased winner until before 9th, chased leading pair until 12th, outpaced after 3 out
Sam Patch certainly wouldn't be winning out of turn but he's now been beaten six times off his current mark. Ancient Times has only had one previous run over fences but won easily off the mark over hurdles at Ayr earlier this month and is preferred to Peak Seasons, who races from 7lb out of the handicap, and the disappointing Reasonable Force. TWICE LUCKY has had his problems lately but there was just a hint of a revival at Doncaster last time and he'd go close here if recapturing the form he showed in the autumn. Domoly is starting to drop down the weights and could also play a part as he wouldn't have been suited by the shorter trip at Towcester last time.
Reasonable Force 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened from 6th, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Wilde Pastures (10-2) at Catterick 2m nov chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Twice Lucky 16-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, one pace from 3 out, 4th of 15, 10l behind Be My Deputy (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd.
Man Of Principles (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Led, headed before 6 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Dingo Bay (10-7) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Domoly (FR) 4-1 (11-1) In rear, ridden and headway before 2 out, went 4th before last, one pace, 4th of 7, 13l behind Mujamead (11-4) at Towcester 2m hcp ch 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan.
Mystified (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Towards rear, weakened before 4 out, 6th of 15, 16l behind Be My Deputy (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd.
Sam Patch 5-1 (11-2) Towards rear, outpaced 8th, headway before 4 out, chased winner from last, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Dingo Bay (10-7) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan.
Ancient Times (USA) 5-1 (9-12) Made all, clear before last, driven out, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy beating See The Legend (10-7) by 22l, 8 ran.
Peak Seasons (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Led, headed before 8th, went 5th before 2 out, one pace, 5th of 15, 11l behind Be My Deputy (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd.
