held up towards rear, reminders after 6th, headway 4 out, chased winner from 2 out, no impression
held up towards rear and keen, chased leaders 3rd, chased winner from 7th until approaching 3 out, in 4th and weakening when fell 2 out
led and keen, jumped left 1st, jumped slow 3rd, headed 5th, jumped left 7th, soon pushed along and lost place, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, went poor 5th approaching 3 out, left 4th 2 out, one pace
tracked leaders, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and no impression when chased winner 3 out, weakened last
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place 4th, chased leaders 5th, mistake and lost place 8th, tailed off 4 out
held up in rear, niggled and detached after 7th, kept on to pass beaten horses from 3 out, took 3rd flat, no impression
tracked leader, led 5th, about 11 lengths clear before 3 out, eased towards finish, very easily
BENBANE HEAD was well beaten when stepped up to Listed company and dropped back in trip at Chepstow on his return from year off. He had produced his best effort so far to score over 3m2f in a novices' hurdle at Cheltenham previously and can take this if running anywhere near that level. Double Expresso slipped and unseated his rider on his chasing debut last November but looks to have every chance back over timber while Silver Accord has been raised 7lb for finishing second to Bellflower Boy at Bangor last month but is still improving. The consistent Corso Palladio is another to consider after a cosy win at Aintree last time.
Double Expresso 5-6fav (11-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd and keen, hit 5th, blundered and unseated rider 11th, in a race won by New Shuil (10-9) at Musselburgh 3m nov chs (4) gd in Nov, 6 ran.
Benbane Head (USA) 9-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 4 out, 7th of 13, 35l behind Any Given Day (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Oct.
The Hollinwell 12-1 (11-0) Made virtually all, ridden along 2f out, just held on, won at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec beating Natural Spring (10-7) by hd, 10 ran.
Chester Lad 16-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, hit 3 out, kept on, no impression, 5th of 13, 14l behind Diklers Oscar (10-13) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.
Corso Palladio (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) In touch, went 2nd 3 out, led before next, ridden last stayed on well under pressure flat, won at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Oct beating Court Red Handed (11-3) by 4l, 17 ran.
Parlesotho (FR) 66-1 (10-12) Raced wide, held up in 5th, headway to chase leaders 7th, mistake, stumbled and lost position next, rallied after 3 out, ridden in 4th and no impression when hit 2 out, 4th of 6, 17l behind Carole's Legacy (10-12) at Kempton 3m mrs lst hdl (1) gd in Nov.
Terenzium (IRE) 66-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear on inside, ridden and headway after 2 out, no extra from last, 5th of 11, 16l behind No Principles (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Lackamon 3-1 (10-12) Led until after 1st, prominent, not fluent 2nd, ridden and weakened approaching last, 4th of 11, 15l behind Blenheim Brook (10-12) at Hexham 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) hvy in Nov.
Silver Accord (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, hampered 4th, headway approaching 9th, every chance 2 out, not quicken run-in, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Bellflower Boy (11-3) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Dec.
