always in rear
led, headed and hit 2 out, switched right and regained lead last, headed close home
chased leader until after 3rd, remained prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, lost touch after 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway to go 2nd after 3rd, pulled up lame before 9th
held up, headway 11th, weakening when mistake 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 10th, hit 3 out, soon ridden, lost 2nd and not clear run approaching 2 out, stayed on well under pressure to lead close home
mid-division, reminders 4th, ridden after 10th, weakened approaching 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
mid-division, blundered 2nd, headway 8th, switched right approaching 16th, led 2 out, mistake when headed last, weakened flat
prominent, lost place 5th, jumped slowly 6th, always behind after
Nonrunner
Ultimate Limit gets our vote in a tricky handicap chase, Midnight Gunner and Up The Pub look to be the main rivals. The selection should be spot on for this following a recent pipe opener at Exeter. His jumping looked to have improved in that contest and although tiring close home that was probably due to lack of a recent run and fitness shouldn't be a problem today. Midnight Gunner hit winning form at Wetherby last time, comfortably beating Tee-Jay. The handicapper has taken note but he should still be in the shake up. Up The Pub was also succesful last time, landing a similar event at Chepstow. He still looks on a fair mark and should go well. Ballyfin is an outsider with a bit of a squeak, but if Ultimate Limit runs up to his best he will be very hard to beat.
Midnight Gunner 7-2 (11-9) Held up, took close order halfway, led 10th to 13th, led again 4 out, stayed on well, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft beating Tee-Jay (11-7) by 9l, 8 ran.
Elegant Eskimo 9-1 (11-4) Keen, led to 11th, weakening when fell at the 15th in race won by Another Club Royal (11-4) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Apr, 12 ran.
Finzi (IRE) Evensfav (11-5) Led, headed 9th, outpaced when hit 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up 4 out in race won by Omni Cosmo Touch (11-12) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in May, 3 ran.
Moscow Leader (IRE) 10-1 (10-3) Prominent, ridden 7th, mistake 8th, soon weakened and pulled up 5 out in race won by Hawk's Landing (11-4) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs, 9 ran.
Celtic Pride (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Led, headed 8th, weakened 11th, 6th of 17, 42l behind Major Benefit (11-5) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy in Dec.
Ultimate Limit 7-2 (10-12) Held up, headway to chase winner after 11th, soon ridden, no chance from 3 out, 2nd of 6, 17l behind Neysauteur (11-10) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Up The Pub (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) In touch, hampered and left in lead 4 out, kept on, won at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs beating Southerndown (10-9) by 11l, 17 ran.
Aheadofhistime (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened 14th and pulled up at the last in race won by Heltornic (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (3) gs, 12 ran.
Ballyfin (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Held up, ridden after 13th, stayed on from 3 out, 5th of 12, 14l behind First De La Brunie (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs (4) sft in Jan.
Buzybakson (IRE) 40-1 (11-6) Always behind, 9th of 11, well behind Parkinson (10-5) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-88 (5) hvy in Mar.
King of Gothland (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Held up, reminder after 14th, brief effort 17th, soon struggling, 5th of 10, well behind Charango Star (11-3) at Hereford 3m 7f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
