towards rear
in touch, hit 7th, headway 3 out, effort approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
mid-division until weakened after 3 out
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on well from last, went 3rd towards finish
always behind
mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden before next, led soon after last, driven out
tracked leader, led 4th, ridden after 2 out, headed soon after last, kept on
led until 4th, stayed prominent, ridden after 3 out, kept on gamely under pressure
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
mid-division until outpaced 3 out
prominent until 4th, chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace from next
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, weakened
Nonrunner
The Tother One and Vodka Bleu are the obvious two and it's difficult to put anyone off either; however, we'll take a chance with The Very Man. The Tother One is clearly an exciting prospect and could well win but he's 23lbs higher than when winning over course and distance in December on just his third start over hurdles. The obvious one to take him on with is Vodka Bleu who has been revitalised by blinkers and is thrown in on his chase form. He was a perfectly decent hurdler, winning four of his thirteen starts, and must be feared. That pair are likely to dominate the market but Warne's Way, Mendo, Ballyfitz and The Very Man also make the short-list. The firstnamed appears to have benefited from a wind operation if an improved showing at Ascot is anything to go by but that run has blown his mark so more's needed. Mendo was a progressive hurdler but it's offputting that connections switched him to chasing after his win in November; he's respected though. The Very Man beat Ballyfitz (6lbs better off) by 2 lengths at Lingfield and the pair are both lightly raced and progressive. This requires another step forwards and both need to brush up on their hurdling but The Very Man caught the eye in defeat at Market Rasen earlier in the season and looks a reasonably priced alternative to the market leaders.
Kawagino (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Raced keenly, wide, tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, ridden, headed before last, rallied gamely flat, held near finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Nycteos (10-10) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Temoin 8-11fav (10-13) Tracked leader, lost 7th, effort 13th, under pressure 3 out, kept on from last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 3, 6l behind Antonius Caesar (10-7) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) hvy in Jan.
Overstrand (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) In rear, reminders 4th, ridden 7th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Missis Potts (10-5) at Hereford 2m nov chs (3) sft in Jan, 6 ran.
Lyes Green 16-1 (11-6) Prominent, led after 2nd, hit 4th, ridden, headed approaching 2 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 9, 13l behind Nycteos (10-10) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Hills Of Aran 4-1 (11-12) Raced wide, held up, raced keenly, jumped right, mistake 6th, progress soon after, beaten next, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Carruthers (11-10) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Dusky Warbler 20-1 (10-6) Held up, blundered badly 1st and nearly unseated rider, behind when pulled up at the 2nd in race won by An Accordion (10-3) at Doncaster 3m lst hcp chs (1) gd in Jan, 20 ran.
The Tother One (IRE) 8-13fav (10-8) Held up in rear, smooth headway on bit approaching 2 out, soon challenging, led, hit last, pushed clear flat, won at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec beating Arafan (10-1) by 4l, 18 ran.
Warne's Way (IRE) 25-1 (10-1) Prominent, led 3rd, headed after next, led again 8th, clear approaching 2 out, headed and no extra after last, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Lough Derg (11-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Tighten Your Belt (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Prominent, ridden after 7th, led briefly bend approaching 2 out, every chance 2 out and last, kept on well flat, 2nd of 10, nk behind Russian Trigger (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Mendo Evensfav (11-0) Held up behind leaders, nudged along from 7th, blundered 10th and fell at the 11th in race won by O'maley (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f beg chs (4) gd in Dec, 6 ran.
Rio De Janeiro (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Led until after 2nd, chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on approaching last, 4th of 9, 20l behind Nycteos (10-10) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Ballyfitz 15-8fav (11-13) Held up, headway 8th, chased winner and every chance 2 out, switched right approaching last, one pace, 2nd of 11, 2l behind The Very Man (11-6) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
The Very Man (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Held up, headway to join leaders 8th, ridden to lead 2 out, ran on, won at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Jan beating Ballyfitz (11-13) by 2l, 11 ran.
Supsonic (10-10) behind Boogie (10-3) at Cagnes-Sur-mer 2m 2f hdl in Dec, 16 ran.
Vodka Bleu (FR) 7-1 (10-13) Towards rear, steady headway from 11th, led last, ran on, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Jan beating Patman Du Charmil (10-11) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Accordello (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, reminders 4th, well behind 3 out, kept on but never reach challenging position, 5th of 11, 25l behind Sovietica (10-2) at Kempton 3m mrs hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Arrayou (FR) 66-1 (11-2) Held up, pushed along and struggling from 7th, 14th of 20, 16l behind Mous Of Men (10-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jan.
