mid-division, headway after 8th, hit 13th, went 2nd before 3 out, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, blundered 13th, outpaced before 4 out, weakened approaching next
led until 11th, weakened from 13th
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, outpaced before 10th, well beaten before 3 out, mistake 2 out, plugged on to take 3rd last
always towards rear, pulled up before 11th
prominent, led 11th, headed after 13th, weakened 3 out
prominent, led after 13th, clear before 3 out, easily
held up towards rear on outside, pushed along after 6th, mistake 10th, not fluent next, pulled up before 12th
always in rear, not fluent 13th, pulled up before 3 out
Young claimer Harry Bannister gave FINE PARCHMENT an excellent ride from the front at Taunton last time but the partnership was collared close home by No Secrets. The shorter trip today should be in his favour and he'll have most of these in trouble if jumping as well here. He's just preferred to Ballyallia Man, who was second over 3m2f here on Boxing Day but won over 2m4f at Market Rasen in April last year and should be thereabouts while it will be interesting to see if there's any money for the useful pair Definity and Moleskin, who both reappear following a lay-off. Brian Ellison runs both Andreo Bambaleo and Simonside and they can't be ignored but Webberys Dream and Only Vintage were pulled up last time.
Definity (IRE) 3-1fav (11-8) Mid-division, bumped 6th, headway 11th, outpaced 3 out, ridden to chase leaders next, kept on same pace, no impression, 5th of 20, 8l behind Divers (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (1) gd in Mar '11.
Clouded Thoughts (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, weakened 2 out, 13th of 16, 34l behind The Disengager (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.
Fine Parchment (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Led, driven 5 lengths clear last (usual 2 out), soon ridden, kept on until tired and headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind No Secrets (11-4) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec.
Webberys Dream 15-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, ridden after 11th, weakened 5 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Triptico (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec, 10 ran.
Andreo Bambaleo 7-1 (11-4) Raced wide throughout, held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 5 out, weakened after 3 out, jumped left last, modest 4th, 4th of 8, 36l behind Desert Cry (11-6) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
Moleskin (IRE) 5-4fav (10-9) Led until 4th, led next, headed 9th, left in lead 10th, headed approaching 4 out, soon beaten and tired, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 4, 39l behind Railway Dillon (11-2) at Perth 3m nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Apr.
Ballyallia Man (IRE) 5-2 (11-9) Led, headed 3 out, every chance next, one pace when not fluent last, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Monkerty Tunkerty (11-11) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Only Vintage (USA) 11-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, mistake and dropped to last 10th, mistake next, hit 15th and weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by The Rainbow Hunter (11-5) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in May, 6 ran.
Nothingbutthetruth (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Soon led, headed approaching 6th, led again 3 out, soon headed, stayed on same pace approaching last, 5th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Compton Blue (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Oct.
Simonside 6-4fav (11-11) Led, headed after 2nd, tracked leader, led before last, headed last, kept on and held run-in, 2nd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Schinken Otto (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy.
