chased leaders, lost place before 8th, behind when blundered 10th, pulled up before omitted 3 out
chased leaders, lost place on paddock bend after 6th, behind and pulled up before omitted 3 out
chased leaders, pushed along before omitted 3 out, well held when went right 2 out, left modest 3rd at the last
chased leaders, went 2nd 6th until approaching 7th (water), chased leaders, weakened 10th
led until 5th, chased leader until 6th, chased leaders, 2nd again before 7th (water), lost 2nd before omitted 3 out, weakened into 4th when went badly right 2 out
towards rear, poor 7th when pulled up before omitted 3 out
started slowly and lost many lengths, well behind, tailed off and pulled up before bypassing omitted 3 out
held up headway approaching 9th, 3rd before omitted 3 out, no chance with leading duo, left distant 2nd last
held up, not fluent 6th, mistake 8th, jumped slowly 10th, soon in rear and pulled up
held up in touch, headway chasing leaders 8th, 2nd before omitted 3 out, challenged 2 out, driven and 1 length down when hit last and unseated rider
chased leader, led and hit 5th, made rest, 1 length ahead when left well clear last
Simply Wings took advantage of a lenient mark to score at Lingfield last month but has been raised 7lb for his troubles. The jury is still out on Drumshambo, despite his latest third at Ascot, but Shoegazer will have needed his run at Chepstow and usually competes at a higher level. Cloudy Bob, Violets Boy and Bincombe could all figure if returning to their best and, like the latter, Tolkeins Tango is a course and distance winner though was well behind Simply Wings last time. ATLANTIC ROLLER lacks the experience of some of these but there was a lot to like about his run behind Somchine here at the start of the month. That will have blown away a few cobwebs and he's potentially well treated over fences at present.
Shoegazer (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place 9th, mistake next, blundered 11th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Quincy Des Pictons (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec, 10 ran.
Drumshambo (USA) 8-1 (11-7) Held up in last trio, hampered 7th, headway 11th, stayed on into modest 3rd before 2 out, 3rd of 8, 27l behind Niceonefrankie (11-3) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Nov.
Simply Wings (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, led 8th, hard ridden when challenged 2 out, stayed on strongly (1 fence ommited), won at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec beating Umberto D'olivate (11-12) by 4l, 7 ran.
Notarfbad (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Led until 5th, led 6th, headed 8th, outpaced after 4 out weakened next, 5th of 6, 16l behind Filbert (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy.
Cloudy Bob (IRE) 8-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, badly hampered 10th, went right next, plugged on run-in, 8th of 12, 14l behind Rebel Rebellion (10-11) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft.
Violets Boy (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Chased leaders in 4th, went 3rd after 6th, chased winner 10th until 12th, chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, one pace into modest 4th 2 out, no chance with leading duo when went left last, no extra in 5th run-in, 5th of 8, 26l behind Fairy Rath (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Days Ahead (IRE) 25-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 3rd at 4th, weakened 13th, 4th of 5, 26l behind Howlongisafoot (11-8) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Tolkeins Tango (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, ridden 8th, weakened 4 out, rallied 2 out, never on terms, 4th of 7, 29l behind Simply Wings (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
Bincombe 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, weakened after 4 out, in rear when blundered next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Simply Wings (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
Atlantic Roller (IRE) 11-4 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 4th, every chance 3 out, 3 lengths off winner last, stayed on, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Somchine (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy.
Saint Raph (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Led, hard driven when challenged after 3 out, headed next, rallied last, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Mr Fitzroy (10-11) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
