led until approaching 4th, chased leader, led 10th, reminder after 13th, 4 lengths ahead last, driven out
in touch, lost place 9th, niggled along, ridden and behind from 14th
held up in last, ridden to go 4th 4 out, closed after 3 out, stayed on well to go 2nd flat, closed on winner, always held
held up, headway 12th, ridden and weakened 14th, tailed off
prominent, chased winner 12th, pushed along after next, hit 3 out, lost 2nd 2 out, beaten last, weakened flat
prominent, led approaching 4th to 10th, remained handy, chased winner 2 out until flat, stayed on
held up, took keen hold, closed 4th, ridden after 15th, weakening when mistake 4 out, tailed off
Nigel Twiston-Davies does really well with runners over extreme distances and his runner here, The Gangerman, has to be respected and has claims if able to reproduce the form that he showed at Fontwell two starts ago but he disappointed here last time so a better bet may be SIR PETER, who gets the verdict ahead of Freddies Return. Jim Old's gelding was tailed off before three out on his reappearance at Cheltenham in November but he has been given a break since then and looks attractively weighted. Sarah Humphrey's Ya I Know has paid the penalty for his win at Market Rasen two starts ago and may now be too high in the weights, while El Batal was pulled up on his return at Plumpton last month and now looks best watched. Gatien Du Tertre has only had three starts since joining the Alner's from France but has been well held in those outings and a better bet looks to be Sir Peter. Henry Daly's gelding stepped up on the form shown on his reappearance at Exeter when a close fourth here last month and he may be worth siding with in this competitive staying handicap.
The Gangerman (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Held up, struggling 12th, 6th when pulled up before 17th, in a race won by Fine By Me (9-13) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Gatien Du Tertre (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, weakened next, 7th of 14, 40l behind Plein Pouvoir (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Freddies Return (IRE) 80-1 (10-7) Not always fluent, always in rear, 15th of 17, well behind Wolf Moon (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
El Batal (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, struggling after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Rebeccas Choice (11-1) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 18 ran.
Sir Peter (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway 10th, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 10, 14l behind Fine By Me (9-13) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Ya I Know (IRE) 12-1 (12-2) Chased leaders, mistake 13th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 12, 24l behind Opus Cafe (11-0) at Sedgefield 3m 3f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) sft in Nov.
Heart Springs 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, hit 5th, reminders 7th, in rear and struggling after next, tailed off when pulled up before 10th, in a race won by Ultimate Limit (11-9) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
