held up towards rear, headway 4 out, led before 2 out, left clear 2 out, kept on
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 5th, led 3 out, soon headed, a close 2nd and slightly hampered and fell 2 out
led, headed 4th, pushed along before 6th, weakened before 4 out, reminders before 3 out, hampered in 4th 2 out, went 2nd before last, no impression
in touch in 4th, headway 8th, went 3rd before last, one pace
held up in rear, headway when stumbled badly 6th, soon lost place, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, ridden before 3 out, well held when badly hampered and unseated rider 2 out
tracked leader, led 4th, left 2nd 2 out, ridden and weakened before last
This won't take much winning and, though racing from out of the handicap, Chepstow second Hector's House and veteran Panthers Run both have claims. Freckle Face would have been placed here last month had he not unseated his rider but FINTAN is a tentative selection. He is far from foot-perfect but usually gets round and his latest fourth at Uttoxeter came in a better race. Highland River is preferred to Beauchamp Viking and Mezarat of the others.
Freckle Face 10-1 (11-9) Held up behind, headway and in touch 5th, led narrowly 4 out, ridden and headed between last 2, 5 lengths down in clear 2nd when mistake and unseated rider last, in a race won by Bill The Lad (10-7) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Fintan 4-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th or 6th, some headway approaching 4 out, never on terms, 4th of 7, 16l behind George Nympton (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec.
Highland River 66-1 (11-6) Held up in touch in 5th, headway to take 2nd before 3rd, bumped and stumbled just after 5th, weakening when not fluent last (normal 3 out), last of 6, 26l behind The Jugopolist (10-10) at Leicester 2m 4f sell hdl (5) hvy.
Beauchamp Viking 16-1 (10-6) Held up in touch in rear, not fluent and ridden along 7th, soon behind, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Aviso (11-12) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Sep '12.
Mezarat (ITY) 20-1 (10-3) Held up behind, some headway after 9th, outpaced 3 out (usual 4 out), plugged on from next, never near leaders, 5th of 10, 15l behind Echo Dancer (9-13) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Jun.
Hector's House 3-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th until pushed along 5 out, no chance with leading duo, left poor 2nd last, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Riddleofthesands (11-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Nov.
Panthers Run 16-1 (9-11) Prominent, lost place 3 out, modest 3rd, 3rd of 6, 15l behind Pamak D'airy (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy.
