mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway approaching 5th, ridden before 2 out, 8 lengtsh 3rd when blundered and unseated rider last
held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 5th, remote 6th when fell 2 out
held up towards rear, took keen hold, mistake 1st, behind 6th, tailed off
mid-division, took keen hold, weakening when mistake 5th, tailed off when pulled up after 6th
mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 1st
tracked leaders, took keen hold, hampered by loose horse 3rd, went 2nd approaching 2 out, soon no impression, one pace
mid-division, jumped left 2nd, mistake next, ridden and weakened after 6th, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, weakened 6th, tailed off
tracked leader from 1st, hampered by loose horse and led 3rd, headed 6th, ridden and beaten 2 out, well held when left 4th last
ridden 4th, never on terms, tailed off
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake 6th, soon well beaten, tailed off
led until 3rd, hit next, led 6th, clear from 2 out, hit last, ridden out
prominent, mistake 3rd, outaced 6th, stayed on from 2 out, left 3rd last, closing on 2nd towards finish
Point-to-point winner WATERUNDER got off the mark over hurdles when scoring over C&D last month with a subsequent winner behind and that's much the best form on offer. David Pipe's charge can go in again despite a penalty as The Pretender, a bumper winner in France, has shown little over hurdles so far. A few of these arrive from the Flat though Wolverhampton winner Mezzanisi hasn't raced since 2009 and New Christmas has his first start since 2010. Rocky Elsom and Valmari may prove best of the rest.
Waterunder (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway after 4th, led approaching last, held on well, won at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Jan beating It's A Gimme (11-11) by 1/2l, 18 ran.
Engai (GER) 100-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, some headway after 5th, no impression, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Loose Chips (11-4) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Ivor's King (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, tracked leaders 3rd, lost place from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Brough Academy (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan, 7 ran.
Mezzanisi (IRE) 9-1 (8-8) Steadied soon after start, raced keenly in mid-division, not clear run and switched right over 2f out, headway over 1f out, edged left and went 3rd inside final furlong, not troubled front pair, 3rd of 15, 6l behind Red Merlin (8-10) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Jul '09 (flat).
New Christmas (USA) 9-2 (9-1) Stumbled start, held up in 7th on outside, ridden over 2f out, headway to modest 4th over 1f out, 4th of 8, 7l behind Aattash (8-12) at Goodwood 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Jun '10 (flat).
Notarfbad (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, well behind Nelson's Bridge (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) gs in Jan.
Rocky Elsom (USA) 14-1 (9-7) Mid-division, not clear run and hampered over 2f out, not much room when weakening over 1f out, 7th of 9, 11l behind Nibani (8-13) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan (flat).
The Omen 200-1 (10-10) Mid-division, outpaced 7th, soon weakened, well behind when hit last, 11th of 13, well behind Black Thunder (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
The Pretender (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, good headway on inside after 3 out, went 4th when hit 2 out and hampered, beaten when blundered last, lost poor 3rd post, 4th of 11, 26l behind Grove Pride (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) gs in Jan.
Fair Breeze 100-1 (10-11) Always behind, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Poole Master (11-7) at Lingfield 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Lynford Nakita 66-1 (10-12) Last pair, struggling before 9th, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Aikideau (11-11) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Valmari (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Led after 1f, headed inside final 7f, chased leader until 5f out, went 2nd again inside final 4f until over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 7l behind Honourable Knight (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan (flat).
Withy Mills 66-1 (11-3) Tracked leader until 4th, weakened after 6th, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Lights Of Broadway (11-3) at Taunton 2m 3f mares NH nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
