mid-division, headway 5 out, led 3 out, headed approaching next, kept on same pace
tracked leader, hit 2nd, every chance 3 out, led before next, headed after last, kept on under presure
chased leaders, lost place 4 out
mid-division, weakened before 4 out
held up, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, led after last, ran on
mid-division, under pressure 3 out, soon lost place, pulled up before next
led, soon pressed, blundered 4 out, headed next, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
behind, headway 3 out, ridden next, no extra closing stages
mid-division, headway 4 out, weakened after next, soon pulled up
in touch, effort 3 out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, every chance before 2 out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, weakened 5 out, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
NonRunner
Head Lad finally opened his account over hurdles when scoring over a shorter trip here last month. That was his first start after wind surgery and debut for Dan Skelton so it’s reasonable to expected further progress but Lochinver was beaten off today’s mark last time having won at Stratford earlier with BELLS OF PETERBORO back in third. The latter just failed to catch the winner at Exeter subsequently and Tim Vaughan’s charge gets another chance over this longer trip. Go To Court placed at Southwell earlier but was pulled up in soft going last time while Eaglehill is fitted with a headgear today and Cilluirid represents a yard that has won two of the last four runnings.
Ninth Wave (IRE) 22-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, hit 7th, well beaten from 4 out, 7th of 10, 26 1/4l behind Gone Platinum (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Eaglehill (FR) 9-2 (10-8) Chased leaders, slow 3rd, not fluent 5th, lost place 4 out, 9th of 12, 30 1/4l behind Flinck (11-7) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Go To Court (IRE) 9-1 (10-6) Keen early, held up, not always fluent, hampered on bend before 11th, mistake and behind 13th, soon pulled up, at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Head Lad (FR) 11-8fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, poised to challenge after 3 out, led narrowly next, ridden and kept on flat, all out near finish, just held on, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Nov beating Miss Amelia (10-11) by shd, 11 ran.
Bells Of Peterboro (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Held up in touch on inside, headway to lead narrowly before 3 out, ridden after next, headed narrowly last, kept on and every chance flat, just held, 2nd of 15, nk behind Tactical Manoeuvre (10-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Lochinver (FR) 4-1jfav (11-10) Held up, pushed along and headway 2 out, ridden and stayed on to go 3rd next, not trouble leaders, 3rd of 10, 12l behind Methag (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Banana Joe (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Led until before 2nd, chased leader until pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, last of 10, dist behind Sir Valentine (10-12) at Newbury 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Wye Aye 66-1 (11-0) Slowly away, pulled hard, held up, not fluent 3rd, weakened before 3 out, last of 6, dist behind Barrowlands (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Cilluirid (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Mid-division, driven to chase clear leaders before 2 out, kept on same pace, never a threat, 6th of 16, 27 1/4l behind Pull Green (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Catlin 40-1 (11-2) In touch, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 11, 20 1/4l behind Dan Gun (10-11) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Glengar (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, awkward 3rd, mistake 5th, mistake and well beaten 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Early Boy (FR) 25-1 (10-0) Mid-division, lost touch halfway, behind when pulled up after 4 out, at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Dr Oakley (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Held up and behind, headway chasing leaders between last 2, kept on into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 14, 13l behind Searching (12-5) at Hereford 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
