always towards rear, well beaten when pulled up before 14th
never better than midfield, struggling and pulled up before 11th
prominent, shaken up approaching 3 out, pressed leader and every chance last, kept on well flat but no match for winner
led, soon headed, pushed along approaching 2 out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden approaching 11th, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
prominent, soon led, headed approaching 2 out, no extra and lost third approaching last
midfield, dropped to rear and struggling when unseated rider 13th
midfield, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, soon held
prominent, shaken up home turn, pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear, pushed along and struggling after eighth, pulled up 10th
towards rear, ridden approaching 4 out, headway approaching 3 out, kept on after last but no match for first 2
chased leaders, jumped well throughout, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, kept on well after last, comfortably
MIDNIGHT MIDGE has won both starts since joining Philip Hobbs’ yard and had the measure of the re-opposing Huelgoat at Taunton last time. He’s been raised 5lb but drops down a grade so the hat-trick beckons. Runswick Bay and The Mighty Arc should both be sharper for recent comebacks with the latter preferred back up in distance while Ede'iffs Elton has a shout in this grade and makes more appeal than both Animal and Dreaming Blue.
The Mighty Arc (IRE) 9-4fav (10-11) Chased leaders, not fluent 7th, challenged after next, not fluent 10th, led before 3 out, headed and pecked badly 2 out, soon well held, 4th of 5, 7 1/2l behind Mackenberg (12-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Runswick Bay 10-3jfav (10-10) In, not fluent 2nd, mistake 5 out, struggling from 4 out, plugged on from 2 out, 4th of 6, 14 1/2l behind Mercian Prince (11-8) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Huelgoat (FR) 11-4 (11-5) Held up off the pace in last pair, closer omitted 4 out, 3rd between last two, went 2nd at the last, stayed on same pace run-in, never reached challenging position, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Midnight Midge (11-0) at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Midnight Midge 2-1fav (11-0) Off the pace in 3rd, closer entrance to back straight last circuit, went 2nd omitted 5 out, led before 3 out, clear next, stayed on strongly (all four fences in back straight omitted due to low sun, six fences jumped in total), won at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Dec beating Huelgoat (11-5) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Triple Trade 7-1 (10-10) Prominent, ridden 4 out, weakening 3 out, pulled up, at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Ede'iffs Elton 11-1 (10-10) Mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, soon steady headway and went 4th approaching last, ridden run-in, kept on, never nearer, 3rd of 11, 4 1/4l behind Shakem Up'arry (11-13) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Longshanks (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Prominent, steadily lost ground from 7th, in rear 11th, soon well behind and pulled up before last, at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Dreaming Blue 25-1 (11-11) In rear, slow 2nd, headway 11th, went 3rd from 4 out, no impression on winner, plugged on, 3rd of 8, 10 1/2l behind Dalamoi (11-11) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Alto Alto (FR) 9-2 (11-4) Soon steadied mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 3rd, weakened after 4 out, tailed off and pulled up after next, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Earth Business (IRE) 9-1 (12-2) Always towards rear, tailed off, 8th of 11, dist behind Midnight Glance (11-6) at Exeter 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Animal (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Held up, headway under pressure approaching 3 out, could not go pace of leaders approaching last, kept on same pace flat, 3rd of 11, 10 3/4l behind Quick Draw (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Harlem Soul 4-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 3 out where not fluent, ridden and held 2 out, 3rd of 6, 18l behind Hipop Des Ongrais (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
