tracked leaders, fell 4th
led, headed 4th, mistake 3 out, ridden and edged left before last, hard ridden run-in, led last 50 yards, driven out
tracked leader, led 4th, ridden after 2 out and soon hard pressed, headed last 50 yards, kept on
held up in touch and keen, mistake 3rd, held in 4th from 3 out
in rear, headway before 4 out, every chance last, no extra run-in
NonRunner
L'Ami Serge was running over hurdles for the first time in almost two years when only beaten a head in the Relkeel at Cheltenham earlier this month. Any improvement on that would make his tough to beat as he gets 8lb from both Irving and THE NEW ONE. The former won the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle in November and is a past winner here - he easily holds Melodic Rendezvous on the form book. But Nigel Twiston-Davies’ nine-year-old is rated 3lb higher and has never lost on this track. He’s won the last two renewals and looked as good as ever when giving Yanworth a fright in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day. Clyne is another who loves it here but he steps out of handicap company and has a mountain to climb at the weights while Cyrus Darius may need this.
Irving 6-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, mistake and outpaced 4 out, headway 3 out, led 2 out, ridden last, just held on, won at Newcastle 2m (1) sft in Nov beating Apple's Jade (11-0) by ns, 6 ran.
The New One (IRE) 13-8 (11-7) Sometimes jumped right, led, ridden between last two, headed approaching the last, driven and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Yanworth (11-7) at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Dec.
Clyne 6-1 (11-12) In lead when in view after 1st, close 2nd when in view after 4th, towards rear and pushed along when in view after 4 out, in lead at finish (no time taken due to poor visibility), won at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Le Rocher (11-9) by shd, 9 ran.
Cyrus Darius 1-6fav (11-2) Led, not fluent 5th or 8th (water), mistake 9th, led 11th, bad mistake 3 out, reduced lead and edged right before last, hanging right flat, pressed and bumped rival, just prevailed, won at Perth 2m 4f (3) gs in Sep beating Shadow Catcher (11-8) by nk, 3 ran.
L'Ami Serge (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Held up, in rear, closed going well 3 out, challenged last, soon led, ridden flat, headed close home, 2nd of 6, hd behind Agrapart (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan.
Melodic Rendezvous 16-1 (11-0) Tracked winner until before 3rd, stayed in touch until outpaced 2 out, weakened, 4th of 6, 24 1/2l behind The New One (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
