mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, 4th and beaten last, stayed on same pace
led, jumped right at times, clear 5th until 2 out, driven and headed last, carried right flat, stayed on, held towards finish
tracked leader, jumped left at times, ridden, lost 2nd and edged left after 2 out, 3rd and beaten when flashed tail flat, stayed on
in rear, not fluent 2nd, well beaten before 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, 7th and weakening before 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd after 3 out, led last, edged right flat, stayed on
prominent, 4th and ridden approaching 3 out, jumped right and one pace 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division on outside, not fluent 4th, soon lost place, behind 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, well beaten before 3 out, tailed off
held up in touch in mid-division, not fluent 6th, 6th and struggling when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division, lost place when mistake 5th, tailed off after next
mid-division, lost place 5th, well beaten before 3 out, tailed off
MAXANISI found plenty to overhaul an odds-on favourite and subsequent winner over 2m here on his hurdling debut. He won his bumper on heavy ground and, with the step up in trip expected to suit, can defy his penalty today. Never Equalled stayed 3m between the flags and arrives off the back of a narrow victory at Ffos Las, though may not have the scope of the selection. Millanisi Boy will be having his eighth start over hurdles but his second to Unowhatimeanharry at Newcastle in November has worked out well so he can't be ignored and it's too soon to write off Mad About The Boy. But Neil Mulholland's pair, Very Extravagant and Pursuitofhappiness, may need to have their sights lowered.
Maxanisi (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Midfield, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, driven to challenge after 2 out, stayed on to lead close home, won at Chepstow 2m (4) sft in Nov beating Champagne At Tara (10-12) by nk, 10 ran.
Never Equalled (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Made most, drew clear after 4 out, mistake next, soon ridden, 3 lengths advantage when not fluent last, kept on under pressure flat, hard pressed near finish, just held on, won at Ffos Las 2m (4) hvy in Dec beating Preseli Rock (10-12) by shd, 14 ran.
Ballybane (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Jumped left at times, held up in touch, closed 7th, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 9, 33 3/4l behind Fingerontheswitch (10-12) at Worcester 2m 7f mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Court King (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, driven before 3 out, ridden and weakened next, tailed off, 5th of 14, 30 1/4l behind Never Equalled (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Mad About The Boy 66-1 (11-0) Chased leader until after 7th, mistake and weakened next, 9th of 13, 25 1/4l behind Western Cape (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f mdn (3) sft in Dec.
Millanisi Boy 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd before last, jumped left at hurdle, no impression on winner, stayed on and well clear of rest, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-10) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Minella Daddy (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Prominent, outpaced over 4f out, went 3rd and edged right 2f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 11 1/4l behind Willoughby Court (11-7) at Warwick 2m (6) sft in Dec.
Pursuitofhappiness (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Made most to 6th, lost touch from 5 out, 3rd of 4, dist behind King's Odyssey (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 4f (3) sft in Dec.
Run Bob Run 50-1 (10-12) Held up behind, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 12th of 14, dist behind Never Equalled (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Ayla's Emperor 33-1 (10-5) Behind, struggling 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 8th of 14, dist behind Never Equalled (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Oskar's Eva (IRE) 40-1 (10-10) Held up, last 5th, behind 7th, pulled up before 3 out, at Doncaster 2m 4f (4) gd in Nov.
The Model County (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, gradually weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 7 1/4l behind Sister Sibyl (10-12) at Towcester 2m (6) sft in Dec.
Very Extravagant (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Towards rear, pushed along 3 out, soon beaten, 4th of 8, 15 1/2l behind Awesome Rosie (10-10) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) sft in Dec.
Let Me In (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Mid-division, outpaced 3f out, kept on final furlong, 7th of 12, 9l behind Rockwood (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
