close up, ridden and weakened soon after 3 out, pulled up next
led, headed 4th, tracked leader, ridden 3 out, weakened next
always towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, soon weakened
always towards rear, never on terms
tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out when not fluent, ridden clear flat
held up, headway 3 out, ridden to chase winner approaching last, kept om one pace
tracked leaders, joined leader 3 out, ridden next, weakened flat
prominent, led 4th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened flat
in touch, ridden 3 out, never near leaders
raced wide, ridden and headway 2 out, kept on same pace
held up, headway 3 out, ridden and weak next
NonRunner
Demopolis landed a double at Ludlow early in the year. He’d prefer softer going on his return while Set In Stone has the more recent form with a third at Southwell last month though this is tougher. But HYDROPLANE faces an easier task than when beaten nearly six lengths at Cheltenham last time and Ian Williams’ charge should be thereabouts at the finish with a similar effort. Al Kherb slips further down the weights while the maiden First Class Return debuts for new connections and maiden hurdle winner Empirion travels over from Ireland.
Empirion (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Prominent, weakening 3 out when quickly pulled up injured, at Punchestown 2m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Al Kherb 14-1 (11-9) Raced keenly, soon held up towards rear, never on terms after, 6th of 8, 23 1/2l behind Raymond (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
First Class Return (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 8th, slight mistake 4 out, soon pushed along, no impression from before 3 out, no extra and not fluent last, 10th of 14, 26 1/4l behind Tiger Twenty Two (11-10) at Bellewstown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Don Juan Du Gouet (FR) 18-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, pushed along before 5th, soon struggling and detached from main group, last of 10, dist behind Dave And Bernie (12-0) at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Hydroplane (IRE) 40-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway after 2 out, no impression on leaders last, 8th of 17, 5 1/2l behind Lively Citizen (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Demopolis (FR) 6-5fav (10-11) In touch, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, never a threat, 4th of 10, 14 3/4l behind Daytime Ahead (10-11) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Silkstone (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) In touch, hit 2nd, ridden 3 out, kept on to go 4th at last, not trouble leaders, 4th of 8, 18l behind Mount Windsor (12-2) at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Reverend Jacobs 50-1 (11-3) Led after 2nd, hit 4 out, headed and hit next, chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 13, 23 3/4l behind Kannapolis (11-10) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Mcgarry (IRE) 50-1 (10-6) Behind most of way, 9th of 12, 29 3/4l behind Tayzar (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Caroline's Quest (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Fell 1st, at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Onenightintown (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Mistake 1st, towards rear, behind and pushed along after 4th, tailed off, last of 10, dist behind Hot Gossip (10-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Set In Stone (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, ridden between last 2, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 12, 7 1/2l behind Dylan's Sea Song (11-3) at Southwell 2m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
