held up towards rear, ridden before 3 out, one pace and no impression
with leader, led 7 out, headed after 4 out, left 2nd 2 out, lost 2nd before last, no extra
towards rear, headway from before 4 out, about 4 lengths down in 2nd when left in lead 2 out, kept on well
held up towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened
in rear, headway before 3 out, chased winner before last, kept on and always held
tracked leaders, led after 4 out, about 4 lengths up when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
led to 7 out, reminders next, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
Snapdragon Fire tends to find little off the bridle but is 5lb better off than when beaten a length-and-a-half by Court Royale over hurdles at Ludlow last spring and is less exposed than his old rival over the larger obstacles. OUR MERLIN is a past winner here over timber and makes his chasing debut off a fair mark. After a couple of runs in November, he should be cherry-ripe now and can take this with a clear round. Coole Well has finished second in small fields at Newcastle and Haydock but never threatened the winner on either occasion. Envoye Special was pulled up at Sandown and finished well beaten at Kempton so has a bit to prove now.
Snapdragon Fire (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, headway into 2nd after 4 out, driven and no impression before 2 out, ridden and well held in 3rd when went right last, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Adrrastos (11-12) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Envoye Special (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Keen early, headway chasing leaders 2nd, went 2nd 5th, hit 11th, lost 2nd next, weakened soon after, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Our Merlin 5-1 (11-6) Always prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, disputing 3rd and beaten when mistake last, 4th of 8, 17l behind Song For Someone (12-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Court Royale (IRE) 7-2 (10-9) Held up, headway after 5th, pushed along 8th, lost place after next, soon well held, went right last, 4th of 6, 25 1/4l behind Caid Du Lin (11-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Coole Well (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Prominent, jumped left throughout, led 2nd, headed when mistake and hampered by loose horse 4 out, weakening when blundered last, 2nd of 3, 19l behind Precious Cargo (10-12) at Haydock 2m (3) hvy in Dec.
Zizaneur (FR) 10-1 (11-8) Held up, behind 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Good Man Jim (FR) 12-1 (12-0) Led, soon joined, headed 6th, remained prominent, not fluent 12th, slow 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, dist behind Templepark (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
