held up towards rear and keen, mistake 2nd, jumped slowly 9th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 11th
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 4 out, challenged 2 out, every chance last, held towards finish
led to 10th, in 2nd when fell 13th
held up towards rear, left poor 4th 6 out, blundered 4 out, never dangerous
held up in rear, mistake 7th, weakened before 5 out, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leader and keen, led 10th, ridden before 4 out, pressed last, kept on and eased last 25 yards, jockey mistook winning line
tracked leaders, left 2nd 5 out until 4 out, weakened next
This won't take much winning and you'd imagine that jumping would be paramount. Whistling Senator hasn't shown much over fences so far but is feasibly handicapped while Uttoxeter third Gorey Lane could be improving. Thorncliffer's Fakenham third may not amount to much, however, and Hexham fourth Rocking And Reelin has more scope but also a big weight to carry. OVERAFRICA was tried in cheekpieces at Carlisle last time but never looked liked winning. Blinkers are fitted here and it may pay to give Donald McCain's six-year-old a final chance to confirm the promise he showed over hurdles last year.
Rocking And Reelin 18-1 (10-9) Held up behind, headway and hit 8th, went 3rd before 2 out until before last, one pace, 4th of 7, 18l behind Highrate (11-0) at Hexham 2m Beginners Chase (0-110) (4yo+) (4) hvy in Nov.
Whistling Senator (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Soon tracking leaders, reminder after 8th, outpaced 10th, soon lost touch, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Bally Gunner (11-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Overafrica (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Held up towards rear, mistake 15th ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, last of 6, 22l behind Royal Mackintosh (11-4) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Gorey Lane (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Towards rear, headway 5 out, one pace in 3rd before last, 3rd of 13, 20l behind Master Neo (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m Beginners Chase (0-110) (4yo+) (4) hvy in Nov.
Jan Jandura (IRE) 5-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway and in touch in 4th when fell 5 out, in a race won by Or de Grugy (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov, 10 ran.
Thorncliffer 8-1 (10-10) Tracked leader, challenged 3rd, led when not fluent 5th, not fluent 11th, headed before 3 out, no impression on winner from 2 out, mistake last, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 5, 7l behind Peak Seasons (9-7) at Leicester 2m 4f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) gd in Nov.
Dingo Bay 50-1 (10-5) In touch in 4th, went 3rd from 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 5, 49l behind Shoegazer (11-5) at Hexham 2m 7f nov chs (4) gd in May.
