held up towards rear, well beaten before 3 out
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon tracking leaders, unable to challenge, no extra final 100 yards
tracked leaders, ridden and close up when not fluent 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
gifted clear lead, headed before 3 out, mistake at hurdle, soon weakened
mid-division, never on terms, well beaten from 3 out
held up in rear, headway on outside after 6th, soon pressing leaders, mistake and lost place 3 out, weakened before next
prominent in chasing group, went 2nd from 2nd, challenged 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon ridden, switched left on landing last, hung left, no impression on winner final 150 yards
held up towards rear, headway after 6th, soon pressing leaders, no extra last
held up towards rear, ridden after 6th, well beaten before 3 out
mid-division, in rear and struggling after 6th
prominent in chasing group until before 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden after 6th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, lost place from 1st, some headway before 3 out, soon weakened
held up, not fluent, always in rear
always towards rear
prominent in chasing group, not fluent 3rd, led before 3 out, ridden clear flat, stayed on well
This should provide NEW YEAR'S EVE with a first success over hurdles. Last year's Champion Bumper runner-up came up against a very smart prospect in River Maigue on his hurdling bow at Kempton on Boxing Day and will be very unfortunate to come up against one anywhere near as good here. Winning bumper Celtic Abbey was in mid-division when falling on his hurdling debut at Aintree in November and should find a race soon while Paul Nicholls' debutant from France, Ptit Zig, cost 100,000 euros and showed plenty of promise as a three-year-old at Auteuil. Winning point-to-pointers King Massini and Cloud Creeper may do better in time but face stiff tasks here.
Billesley Road 8-1 (10-11) Took keen hold towards rear, stayed on same pace final 2f, 6th of 9, 15l behind Kaysersberg (11-8) at Warwick 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Celtic Abbey 5-1 (11-7) Mid-division, fell 5th, in a race won by Buthelezi (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Cloud Creeper (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, chased leaders 5th, went 3rd from 6th, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 4th of 8, 48l behind Abruzzi (10-6) at Towcester 2m 3f 4yo nov stks (4) sft in Dec.
Credit For Life (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway when not fluent 4th, outpaced after 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 7, 19l behind Dubawi Phantom (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Oct '11.
Diamond Tammy (IRE) 150-1 (11-2) Held up, always towards rear, 10th of 13, 41l behind My Tent Or Yours (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) sft in Jan.
King Massini (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Held up in touch in rear, took keen hold, closed 7th, no impression from 2 out, no extra flat, 4th of 6, 10l behind Dreams Of Milan (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
New Year's Eve 9-2 (11-0) Held up behind, not fluent 1st, headway 5th, challenged and every chance approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression with winner before last, 2nd of 10, 7l behind River Maigue (11-0) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Oyster Shell 10-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 4 out, led before next, headed 3 out, chased winner until approaching next, no extra in 4th between last 2, 4th of 15, 23l behind King Helissio (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Portway Flyer (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, some progress from 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 13, 23l behind My Tent Or Yours (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) sft in Jan.
Radical Impact (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, weakened next, tailed off, 12th of 15, well behind Heronshaw (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Ravens Brook (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakening when hit 3 out, 6th of 13, 40l behind O'faolains Boy (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Reyno 100-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 3rd, last next, not fluent 5th, mistake 2 out, passed some tired horses after, 7th of 13, 35l behind My Tent Or Yours (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) sft in Jan.
Waldorf Salad 66-1 (11-0) Mid-division, not fluent 1st or when towards rear 5th, soon behind, 11th of 13, well behind O'faolains Boy (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Kimora (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Led narrowly, headed over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 10, 35l behind Tonvadosa (10-12) at Towcester 2m mares n h flat (6) hvy in Dec.
Soeur Blanche (IRE) 80-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden 7f out, weakened 6f out, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Horizontal Speed (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn NH flat (6) hvy in Dec.
Ptit Zig (FR) (10-5) 4th of 17, 42l behind Vladimir Ex Vladimir Hall (10-7) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 1f hdl hvy in Oct.
