led until 3rd, ridden and lost place after 8th, well beaten 4 out
held up in touch, outpaced 3 out, rallied next, challenged last, led flat, driven out
tracked leaders on outside until 8th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, ridden before 4 out, went 2nd briefly before mistake 2 out, soon beaten, weakened last
prominent, led 3rd, headed approaching 3 out, one pace and no impression from next
prominent, jumped slowly 5th, led before 3 out, 4 lengths clear when mistake and rider lost irons next, joined last, headed flat, held close home
held up in rear, not fluent 4th or 6th, some headway approaching 4 out, never on terms
MASSENA has been raised 3lb since his second to Highway Code at Newbury but that was only his second start over fences and there should be more to come. He's getting weight from out-of-form rivals here and can get off the mark over the larger obstacles. George Nympton has been a big disappointment this term and is having his first run for a new stable today but Morgan's Bay had excuses when pulled up at Leicester and today's easier surface will suit. Fintan won off a 17lb higher mark over track and trip in October last year but has shown little since.
Marky Bob (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) In touch main group, lost place 9th, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Wychwoods Brook (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft, 10 ran.
George Nympton (IRE) 3-1fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway when slow 4 out and 3 out, never on terms, 4th of 10, 20l behind Un Anjou (10-9) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs.
Superman De La Rue (FR) 16-1 (10-9) Led after 2nd, jumped badly right and headed 11th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 9, 38l behind Bucking The Trend (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Morgan's Bay 5-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, not always fluent, mistake 7th, headway after 11th, hampered 3 out, 8 lengths 5th when crumpled badly a stride after 2 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Drumlang (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf, 9 ran.
The Sneezer (IRE) 40-1 (9-10) Led at decent pace, not fluent 4th, mistake next, headed 9th, weakened rapidly next, tailed off and pulled before 2 out, in a race won by Lancetto (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft, 10 ran.
Massena (IRE) 4-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 5th, every chance 5 out, chased winner before last, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Highway Code (11-9) at Newbury 2m 2f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) gs in Nov.
Fintan 7-1 (10-13) Took keen hold and held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, plugged on to 3rd at the last, never any chance with leading duo, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Chestnut Ben (11-6) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
