always in rear, pushed along and outpaced after 4th, lost touch next, tailed off
chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, disputing well held 2nd 2 out, soon ridden, weakened between last two
chased leading pair, weakening when hit 2 out, soon struggling
took keen hold, held up in touch, pushed along and outpaced as pace lifted approaching 3 out, went 2nd soon after 2 out, one pace and no chance with winner
held up in last pair, mistake 4 out, headway on inside approaching 2 out, went 3rd between last two, kept on but never going pace of winner
chased winner until ridden before 2 out, weakened between last two
raced keenly, made all at steady pace, quickened tempo approaching 3 out, clear next, kept on strongly, eased towards finish, unchallenged
Matchaway makes his hurdling debut and though well beaten in a Chepstow bumper last time the ground was very heavy and he's better judged on his comfortable victory here in December. He's an obvious threat to all but the experience of OFFICER HOOLIHAN may prove too much for him. Tim Vaughan's charge showed his first real sign of ability at Stratford last month when a close third to Three Ways and further progress is expected. Amber Gambler is unbeaten in two point-to-points and should be better than he showed at Southwell on his hurdling bow while Vive Le Roi, who landed a Worcester bumper on his debut in September, is one to keep an eye on as he makes his debut over timber.
Amber Gambler (GER) 10-1 (11-2) Behind, outpaced 3 out, stayed on into mid-division after next, never near leaders, 7th of 13, 33 1/4l behind Man From Seville (11-2) at Southwell 2m (4) gs in Feb.
Ballycash (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, led over 4f out, headed over 2f out, no extra over 1f out, 3rd of 5, 13 1/2l behind Midnight Maestro (10-10) at Doncaster 2m 1f (6) sft in Mar.
Diamond Rock 7-1 (11-0) Midfield, blundered 4 out, headway to chase leaders next, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 12, 32 1/4l behind Midnight Tour (10-7) at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (5) sft in Mar.
Matchaway (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 10f out until over 5f out, weakened over 3f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 26l behind Ballymalin (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (4) hvy in Jan.
Officer Hoolihan 16-1 (11-0) Held up behind, headway 2 out, outpaced in 4th between last 2, kept on under pressure before last, took 3rd near finish, not reach leading pair, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Three Ways (11-0) at Stratford 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Mar.
The Pierre Lark (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, ridden and weakened before last, 5th of 6, 30l behind Too Many Chiefs (11-1) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn (5) hvy in Mar.
Vive Le Roi (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Prominent, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 11 3/4l behind Ballycrystal (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 1f (6) gd in Feb.
