led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened from next
prominent, lost place 4 out, behind from next
mid-division on outside, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, rallied between last 2, led last, stayed on well flat
mid-division, headway on outside 4 out, challenged next, led approaching 2 out, headed when not fluent last, no extra flat, lost 2nd post
towards rear on outside, headway and in touch 6th, challenged 4 out, led narrowly after next, headed approaching 2 out, well held before last
towards rear, chased leaders 3 out, soon ridden, one pace between last 2, no impression
tracked leaders, mistake 4th, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, chased leaders on inside next, soon ridden, one pace last, stayed on to take 2nd post, no impression with winner
Several of these won before failing to cope off higher marks on their latest starts. That includes Optimistic Bias, who dead-heated for first at Aintree in October while both Amiral Collonges and Away For Slates failed to complete after scoring at Ascot and Musselburgh respectively. Road To Freedom won over these hurdles last year but has failed to figure since so a tentative vote goes to top weight KAYSERSBERG. He was competing without success in much better company last year but today's drop in class should see him finish a lot closer.
Kaysersberg (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Led until 3rd, chased winner until 6th, chased leading pair, outpaced 9th, struggling when blundered 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 14th, at Newbury 2m 7f (2) sft in Dec.
According To Trev (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 2nd, not fluent next, some headway on wide outside before 8th, soon weakened, 7th of 10, dist behind Flintham (11-12) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Driftashore (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, bumped 5th, led 5 out, headed 3 out, in 3rd and outpaced before 2 out, just held on to 3rd close home, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 6, 26 3/4l behind Tomkevi (10-2) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Delgany Demon 14-1 (11-12) Mistake 2nd, mid-division, behind from 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 19th, at Catterick 3m 6f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Optimistic Bias (IRE) 11-4fav (11-8) Towards rear, headway after 4 out, ridden 2 out, weakened flat, 7th of 11, 12 1/2l behind Island Heights (11-8) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Amiral Collonges (FR) 11-4jfav (10-8) Held up in rear, not fluent 9th, soon niggled along and no response, behind 3 out, pulled up before next, at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Away For Slates (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) Always towards rear, pulled up, at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Road To Freedom 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, went 3rd before last, kept on and no impression, 3rd of 19, 16l behind Emerging Force (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Pyrshan (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Held up rear of mid-division, pushed along and struggling approaching 3 out, plugged on into modest 4th approaching last, 4th of 15, 20 1/2l behind Amiral Collonges (11-6) at Ascot 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
