held up in rear, steady headway to 4th after 8th, went 3rd before 2 out, soon ridden and weakened after 2 out, struggling in 4th when fell last
took keen hold, held up in 5th, headway to 2nd after 10th, ridden and no impression 2 out, weakened to 3rd last
tracked leading trio, not fluent 5th, blundered 6th and next, blundered and weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out (normal 3 out)
chased winner until after 10th, soon outpaced in 4th, rallied to 2nd at the last, kept on same pace flat
made all, went right 7th, blundered 10th, in command 2 out, stayed on well, driven clear flat
tracked leading pair, hit 8th and ridden, weakened after 10th, behind when hampered by faller on ground and unseated rider last
Nonrunner
Midnight Charmer only won by a neck at Taunton at the end of December but certainly wasn't winning out of turn and Seventh Hussar was pulled up in that contest. He's only 4lb higher here and regular pilot James Banks takes off 7lb. Still at the right end of the handicap, he should go close again but CAULFIELDS VENTURE's second to Reginaldinho at Leicester was a good run and the latter is fancied to open his account over fences here. Fireitfromye was placed at Worcester and Stratford last summer but hasn't raced since August and a bigger danger may be Highland River, who is dropped in class.
Caulfields Venture (IRE) 11-4 (10-11) Held up in rear, hampered 3rd, headway after 11th, led 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Reginaldinho (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Jan.
Seventh Hussar 14-1 (10-6) Held up, badly hampered 1st, headway 6th, went 3rd after 2 out, taking 2nd when not much room and switched left flat, stayed on, not able to get to winner, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Lough Coi (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan.
Highland River 40-1 (11-0) In touch in 4th, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, last of 5, 7l behind Representingceltic (11-0) at Lingfield 2m n h flat (5) std in Jan.
Betheholygobbs (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Mid-division and raced wide, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Newton Tonic (11-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Red Anchor (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway on outside to get in behind leaders approaching 9th, ridden and weakened next, no chance when blundered 2 out, 4th of 6, 33l behind Dynamic Idol (11-9) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan.
Midnight Charmer 4-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway and in touch 8th, challenged 2 out (usual 3 out), led last (usual 2 out), soon ridden, held on under pressure flat, won at Taunton 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec beating Master Flight (10-0) by nk, 10 ran.
Fireitfromye (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd from 5th, challenged 3 out, every chance 2 out, pushed along before last, soon no impression, 2nd of 13, 7l behind Silver Coaster (10-13) at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Aug.
