held up in 5th, closer in 4th place approaching 4th, 2nd 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
awkward 1st, chased leaders and ran in snatches, reminders after 8th, 3rd soon after 3 out, ridden before next, kept on same pace
in rear and never travelled, awkward 1st, reminders after next, struggling 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off and pulled up 7th
tracked leading pair, 2nd approaching 3rd, led approaching 3 out, ridden before next, clear and in command before the last
led, hit 6th, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened quickly, tailed off when mistake 2 out, pulled up before the last
chased leader until approaching 3rd and dropped to last pair, struggling 6th, soon lost touch, left distant 4th last
Back To The Thatch hadn't shown much until arriving here last month where Richard Johnson steered him to a hard-fought victory over the odds-on Scotchtown, who was conceding 8lb. He'll be difficult to beat here but the concession of 6lb to GRAY DAY could prove beyond him. Donald McCain's charge won a 2m4f bumper at Leicester early last month and though finding surprise winner Head To The Stars just too strong on a return visit over hurdles he looked the type to improve again and the trip shouldn't pose a problem. Winning point-to-pointer The Bay Oak has no stamina issues as he proved over 3m1f at Catterick though he also has to give weight away to the selection. King's Tempest, whose last run in 2015 was behind Thistlecrack at Aintree, was having his first subsequent start when tailed off at Chepstow last month and may need another run or two.
Back To The Thatch (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden before omitted 3 out, 2nd when not fluent 2 out, led from last, held on, won at Bangor 2m 7f (3) sft in Dec beating Scotchtown (11-6) by nk, 10 ran.
The Bay Oak (IRE) 4-6fav (11-2) Tracked leader, driven after 3 out, stayed on to lead between last 2, 3 lengths clear last, ridden out, won at Catterick 3m 1f (4) gs in Jan beating Valadom (11-2) by 3 1/4l, 4 ran.
Emperor's Hill (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Close up, weakened over 6f out, last of 14, dist behind I Know U Too Well (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m (6) sft in Dec.
Gray Day (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Close up, led 3 out, ridden and headed last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Head To The Stars (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.
King's Tempest 8-1 (11-0) Prominent, left in lead after 4th, headed next, led 6th, soon headed, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 13, dist behind The Worlds End (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (3) gs in Dec.
Flembrandt (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) In rear, ridden and weakened from 7th, last of 8, dist behind Lady Karina (11-0) at Hereford 2m 6f (4) hvy in Jan.
