pressed leader, slow 2nd and 3rd, led 5th, headed 4 out, weakened before last
tracked leaders, 3rd before 2 out, kept on flat, unable to challenge
chased leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, led when not fluent last, clear flat, stayed on well
held up towards rear, outpaced 4 out, well beaten after next
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd or 4th, headway approaching last, ran on flat, nearest finish
led until 5th, led 4 out, headed before last, held flat, kept on
held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway under pressure after 3 out, not fluent last, not trouble leaders
mid-division, not fluent and outpaced 4 out, well held after
held up in mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, no impression after, kept on flat
raced keenly, mid-division on outside, effort 3 out, weakened before next
A few of these are probably better known as chasers, especially Blaklion who last ran over hurdles in 2015 but is a dual Grade 2 winner over the smaller obstacles. Oh Land Abloom will definitely appreciate the switch back to hurdles but FIRST ASSIGNMENT’s third behind Paisley Park at Haydock looks better in the light of the winner’s success in the Long Walk at Ascot and, though no certainty to beat Lungarno Palace again on these terms, Ian Williams’ six-year-old can get back to winning ways. Keeper Hill ran much better last time at Ascot and that appears to give him the beating of Perfect Man on collateral form but Olly Murphy’s gelding has had a short break since disappointing at Market Rasen in November and, reunited with Aidan Coleman, shouldn’t be far away here.
Blaklion 9-2fav (11-10) Mid-division, closed 13th, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 15th (canal turn), 6th 3 out, well beaten next, 11th of 18, dist behind Walk In The Mill (10-3) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
First Assignment (IRE) 11-10fav (11-0) Held up in touch, chased leaders 4th, every chance before 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Paisley Park (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Keeper Hill (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway after 2 out, stayed on and went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Aaron Lad (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Holly Bush Henry (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, mistake and lost place 2nd, well beaten from 17th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up after, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Notwhatiam (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, steady headway from 8th, went 3rd from last, kept on, no impression, 3rd of 11, 8 1/2l behind Midnight Shadow (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Oh Land Abloom (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, weakened 3 out, pulled up next, at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Lungarno Palace (USA) 16-1 (11-2) Towards rear, headway 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden over 1f out, stayed on into narrow 3rd inside final furlong, no impression, 3rd of 14, 3 1/4l behind Speedo Boy (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Malapie (IRE) 10-1 (12-1) Held up in rear, mistake 7th, headway approaching omitted 6 out, under pressure next, soon weakened, pulled up 4 out, at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Perfect Man (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) In touch, pushed along and weakened after 3 out, 5th of 9, 24 1/2l behind Aaron Lad (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Ritual Of Senses (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and outpaced before next, plugging on but no chance when hampered after the last, 6th of 12, 15 1/4l behind Kalondra (11-12) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
