held up, 6th halfway, headway into 2nd entering straight, ridden in 3rd 2 out, no extra before last
made all, ridden 2 out, strongly pressed from last, kept on well under pressure run-in
chased leader in 2nd, ridden 3 out, soon no extra and weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, ridden entering straight, some late headway in moderate 5th last, no impression
held up, 7th halfway, headway in 5th entering straight, ridden into 2nd 2 out, stayed on to press leader last, kept on, no extra close home
chased leaders in 3rd, ridden 3 out, soon no extra and weakened, tailed off
chased leaders, 5th halfway, headway into 3rd after 3 out, ridden and no extra in 4th 2 out, weakened
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden entering straight, no impression in 5th 2 out, kept on same pace in 4th last, no impression leaders
Steps To Freedom was a big disappointment in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham after landing a Grade 2 there in November. That can't have been his true form and he faces a stiff task attempting to concede weight to County Hurdle winner Alderwood, who deserves a step-up to this grade. Midnight Game also ran poorly in the Supreme novices and his overall form gives him something to find and it's stablemate ALLURE OF ILLUSION who looks the one to beat. He ran really well when sixth in the Supreme and, as that was only his third start over timber, can progress enough to take this despite having been beaten by Steps To Freedom in the Aintree bumper last year.
Steps To Freedom (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Towards rear, headway into mid-division 3 out, weakened before last, 14th of 19, 22l behind Cinders And Ashes (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Alderwood (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Mid-division on inside, headway after 3 out, chased leaders when not much room and hampered after 2 out, rallied to lead last, soon ridden, held on under pressure flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar beating Edgardo Sol (10-6) by 3/4l, 26 ran.
Il Fenomeno (ITY) 7-1 (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden early straight, no impression and dropped to 3rd when mistake last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Benefficient (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 2f nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb.
Abou Ben (IRE) 10-3 (11-2) Keen hold, held up last of the 5, struggling from before straight, went moderate 4th and kept on same pace from before 2 out, 4th of 5, 10l behind Oilily (11-5) at Cork 2m 4f hdl in Mar.
Allure Of Illusion (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Towards rear, outpaced 3 out, headway under pressure after next, chased leaders before last, kept on same pace, no impression, 6th of 19, 10l behind Cinders And Ashes (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Joxer (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden early straight and soon no extra, last of 8, 16l behind Felix Yonger (11-5) at Naas 2m nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Midnight Game 18-1 (11-7) In touch, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next, 15th of 19, 22l behind Cinders And Ashes (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Jacksonslady (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division, 6th halfway, good headway to go 2nd entering straight, led before last, driven out and kept on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 2f mrs lst hdl (1) in Oct beating Bleakfield Lady (11-3) by 6l, 11 ran.
