held up towards rear, weakened before 5 out, went poor 3rd before last
tracked leaders in 3rd, reminders before 8th, soon driven, blundered 5 out, soon outpaced
tracked leader, led 5th, made rest, clear from 4 out
always in rear and mistakes, reminders after 2nd, pulled up
led to 5th, tracked winner, one pace and no impression from 4 out
held up towards rear, blundered 3rd, went 3rd before 4 out, weakened before last
Man With Van did not appreciate the return to hurdling on his reappearance. He was in good form over fences earlier this year with wins at Perth and Hexham but I NEED GOLD is fancied to land this. The latter made a winning chasing debut over these fences in October and Donald McCain's charge is fancied to go in again here. Oscar Rock has the highest rating of these over timber and can figure if taking to the larger obstacles but Wakanda remains 7lb higher than when scoring over fences at Hexham in September.
Man With Van (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 5th at 6th, 9th after 4 out, dropped to moderate 10th 2 out, no extra, 8th of 14, 37l behind Pencilhimin (9-13) at Navan 2m 7f hcap hdle Grd C sft in Nov.
I Need Gold (IRE) 5-6fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led before 11th, clear before 2 out, eased heavily run-in, won at Kelso 2m 7f nov chs (4) gd in Oct beating Straidnahanna (11-0) by 14l, 4 ran.
Wakanda (IRE) 3-1fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Robbie (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Nov.
Lord Wishes (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Chased leading pair until 3rd, soon pushed along in 4th, weakened 5th, tailed off, 5th of 7, 25l behind Yorkist (11-0) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) sft in Nov.
Oscar Rock (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Held up mid-division, weakened from 4 out, 7th of 16, 26l behind Aubusson (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Talkin Sence (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, challenged 3 out, went 3rd before last until no extra run-in, 4th of 7, 13l behind Trucking Along (11-7) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) hvy in Jan.
