chased leaders, jumped slowly 1st and 2nd, soon lost place, ridden halfway, weakened 5 out, tailed off from 3 out
behind, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, kept on well closing stages
held up in rear, headway halfway, under pressure 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
always towards rear, jumped slowly throughout, tailed off from 3 out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, left in 3rd next, hit last, stayed on well
tracked leaders, under pressure after 3 out, weakened next
led, driven and challenged when fell 2 out
prominent, mistake 4 out, under pressure when hampered 2 out, weakened last
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, headway to chase leaders next, ran on strongly to lead last strides
chased leaders, hard driven in 3rd when hampered 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, slow 4th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, ridden to challenge when left in lead next, hard ridden after last, headed last strides, no extra
always behind, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
Nonrunner
Maiden hurdle winner Waterford Star hasn't raced since 2013 and Flying Light is up 9lb for winning by the same number of lengths at Exeter last month. The latter may still figure but a chance is taken on SPRING STEEL in this. He appeared not to stay the 3m trip last time but finished runner-up in a more competitive contest over track and trip on Boxing Day and is 3lb lower today. King Of Strings was placed over these hurdles at this time last year and Magic Money won at Uttoxeter off a similar mark in October. Pay The King is unreliable but capable of getting involved on his day.
Waterford Star (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along 7th, challenged 2 out, soon led, clear last, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Jun '13 beating Mighty Snazy (11-0) by 15l, 8 ran.
Flying Light (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Held up and behind, steady headway before 6th, still plenty to do before 3 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, 3rd when switched left between last 2, led last, came clear run-in, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Mar beating Lamblord (10-13) by 9l, 14 ran.
Oficial Ben (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Took keen hold, held up in rear, steady headway approaching 8th, weakened quickly and eased after 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Krackatoa King (11-7) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Feb, 9 ran.
Pay The King (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Mid-division, lost place 4th, reminder after 6th, behind after 4 out, some headway 3 out, no impression, 6th of 14, 24l behind Cowslip (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Benenden (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, effort when hung right from 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 16, 20l behind Simply A Legend (11-1) at Ascot 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar '14.
Magic Money 11-2 (11-1) Mid-division, headway before 2nd, ridden and lost place 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 8, 26l behind Ebony Empress (11-8) at Newbury 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Mar.
Spring Steel (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Led until 4 out, chased leaders, pushed along in 4th after 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Wizards Bridge (11-4) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Mar.
Superior Fire (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 3rd from 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 26l behind Masterful Act (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Libeccio (FR) 50-1 (10-0) Held up, ridden after 7th, weakened well before 3 out, 8th of 12, 41l behind Alzammaar (10-2) at Newbury 2m 3f 4yo hcp hdl (2) gd in Mar.
King Of Strings (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Towards rear, outpaced 3 out, went poor 3rd after 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 9, 26l behind Storm Of Swords (11-8) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Next Exit (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden 7th, mistake 11th, soon weakened, pulled up 13th, in a race won by Best Boy Barney (11-2) at Southwell 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Jul, 5 ran.
Periquest 66-1 (11-3) Held up mid-division, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 10, 35l behind Our Kaempfer (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Looks Like Magic 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, blundered next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 15l behind Ruaraidh Hugh (9-13) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd.
The Winking Prawn (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway on outside 3 out, chased leaders before next, soon ridden, stayed on to take modest 3rd last, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 17, 21l behind Under The Phone (11-0) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
