tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced by winner after 3 out, no extra flat
mid-division, headway 7th, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, headway 3rd, not fluent 7th, lost place before next, behind 4 out, soon pulled up
led until after 3 out, soon outpaced by winner, closed last, no impression, stayed on same pace
held up towards rear, mistake 5th, pushed along before 7th, hit next, never on terms, well beaten after 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, left 2nd 3rd, mistake 7th, ridden and lost place after next, weakening when mistake 4 out, pulled up after next
held up in mid-division, headway after 4th, mistake 7th, went close up 8th, mistake 4 out, weakened after next, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear on outside, mistake 3rd, headway 6th, outpaced after next, rallied before 8th, no impression on winner after 3 out, closed when mistake last, one pace flat
with leader until blundered and unseated rider 3rd
mid-division on inside, lost place 4th, headway 4 out, challenged next, soon led and went clear, reduced lead last, not challenged and stayed on
held up in rear, struggling 8th, pulled up after 3 out
Phoenix Returns had An Poc Ar Buile more than 10 lengths adrift when winning over 3m1f at Carlisle last month but the latter is entitled to get a lot closer on today's terms. Handazan took the step up to 3m in his stride at Bangor but his stamina may be stretched by this even longer trip and dual Haydock winner Closing Ceremony will have to defy a further 6lb rise if he's to complete the hat-trick, though did beat Minella On Line easily at Kempton around this time last year. Big Hands Harry has been chasing and Top Wood will also be back over the larger obstacles in the near future so this can go to AWAYWITHTHEGREYS. Peter Bowen's stayer is becoming something of a Chepstow specialist but he still looks fairly treated after his latest victory on the Welsh track and he'll get through the ground here better than most.
Top Wood (FR) 2-1 (11-4) Tracked winner until pecked badly 6th, never going that well after, weakened 4 out, unseated rider at fence soon after, in a race won by Mcllhatton (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Jun, 5 ran.
Handazan (IRE) 2-1 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, switched outside to challenge 2 out, shaken up to lead before last, soon clear, ran on, won at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec beating No No Mac (11-10) by 6l, 4 ran.
Phoenix Returns (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, pressed leader 2 out, every chance next, ridden to lead flat, ran on, won at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec beating Barafundle (11-2) by 6l, 9 ran.
Closing Ceremony (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Made all, ridden after 2 out, ran on strongly, won at Haydock 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) hvy in Dec beating Araldur (11-7) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Big Hands Harry 7-2fav (11-4) Prominent until not fluent 3rd, tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 11th, well beaten 5 out, 5th of 9, well behind Cogry (10-13) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs (3) hvy in Dec.
Awaywiththegreys (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Prominent until 2nd, tracked leaders, closed 6th, mistake when challenging 4 out, led flat, driven out, won at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec beating Hansupfordetroit (10-12) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Minella On Line (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, blundered 7th, pushed along when hampered 10th, mistake 12th, behind when hit 13th, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Cogry (10-13) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs (3) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
Vandross (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Held up in 4th place, disputing 4rd before 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 6, 17l behind Lightentertainment (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov.
An Poc Ar Buile (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Raced wide in touch, pushed along with circuit to go, ridden 3 out, headway next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Phoenix Returns (10-8) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Join The Clan (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, no impression from next, 7th of 20, 12l behind Unique De Cotte (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Dawn Twister (GER) 8-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders on inside, mistake 3 out, soon outpaced and behind, last of 7, 30l behind Brownville (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
