mid-division, weakened from 3 out
keen early, led, clear approaching 2 out, easily
held up mid-division, ridden approaching 6th, left poor 4th from 2 out, never dangerous
tracked winner, hit 6th, onepaced from 2 out
held up in rear, hit 2nd, never dangerous
held up towards rear, went moderate 3rd after 3 out
chased leaders, in 4th and beat when quickly pulled up before 2 out
held up behind, never dangerous
in touch, ridden approaching 6th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always towards rear, pulled up before 2 out
Speed Up is taken to open his account on these shores at the main expense of Bleak House and McGruders Cross. Ferdy Murphy's charge wasn't disgraced last season having arrived from France but his reappearance was full of promise that there was better to come. That run saw him finish a close up and staying on fourth to Spectait at Aintree and this test should suit ideally. Bleak House also made a promising reappearance at Aintree, finishing just over 5 lengths behind Souffleur. The winner has progressed rapidly since then but he still shouldn't be taken lightly. He has to prove himself on this ground but is an obvious threat if handling it. McGruders Cross has won 4 times over hurdles in Ireland and has joined a yard that will place him to advantage whilst it's hard to be confident that the handicapper has caught up with Deedeetee despite a 12lb rise for his romp here last time. A competitive contest but there's plenty to recommend Speed Up and he gets our vote.
Bleak House (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 4 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on from last, 4th of 15, 5l behind Souffleur (10-6) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
McGruders Cross (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway on outer 4 out, close 3rd next, challenged approaching 2 out, soon no extra, 7th of 12, 11l behind Golden Empire (11-0) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-123 gd in Apr.
Karathaena (IRE) 7-2fav (11-7) In touch, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 10, 12l behind Mujamead (9-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Deedeetee (IRE) 11-4 (10-6) Made all, quickened approaching 2 out, clear approaching last, won at Catterick 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs beating Rapscallion (11-4) by 8l, 4 ran.
Speed Up (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Held up, keen, ridden approaching 3 out, soon headway, one pace in 7th when blundered badly last, 4th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Spectait (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Nicozetto (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway approaching after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on from last, 4th of 10, 5l behind King Daniel (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Park's Prodigy 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, headway to lead before 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Serabad (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Wally Wonder (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, soon beaten, no chance when blundered last, 7th of 9, 38l behind Palomar (9-10) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
High Moon (USA) 40-1 (10-7) Always behind, weakened from 11th and pulled up at the 13th in race won by Victory Gunner (10-10) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Springvic (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Held up, always behind, 9th of 15, 26l behind Slavonic Lake (10-4) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
