chased leaders, mistake 4 out, pushed along and stayed on to 3rd 3 out, ridden and keeping on same pace when hung left under pressure before last, no chance with leading pair
chased leaders lost place after 7th struggling in dispute of 5th, when badly bumped 10th, blundered 4 out
always behind, tailed off when blundered 4 out
jumped well, chased leader, led 8th, driven flat, strongly pressed close home, kept on gamely
not always fluent, in touch headway to chase leaders 7th, pushed along after 4 out, went 2nd before next, driven and no impression before last, hit last, stayed on strongly in closing stages, just held
in rear, blundered 5th never on terms, tailed off when blundered 2 out
soon off the pace in last trio, reminders before stumbled 6th, no chance when blundered 10th, tailed off, blundered 2 out
held up in 6th, mistake 9th, disputing 5th when went badly left 10th, went modest 4th 2 out
led, slow 1st, blundered badly 3rd, ridden and headed 8th, chased winner, blundered 10th, ridden afer 4 out, soon lost 2nd, weakening when mistake 3 out, blundered next, tailed off
It would be no surprise to see a shock in this as the main contenders didn't jump well on their chasing debuts. However, HOLYWELL has to be given another chance as he was in a different class to these over hurdles. The Pertemps winner and runner-up to Solwhit in a Grade 1 at Aintree, he never jumped with any fluency on his chasing bow at Carlisle but the ground here will be much quicker which should be a help. Barrakilla is the obvious threat though he also made mistakes at Exeter. He is a point-to-point winner so should be capable of further improvement this season. Scarlet Fire has won a bumper and a novice hurdle but has always been more likely to make a chaser so he could figure with Forty Crown looking the best of the remainder.
Barrakilla (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, effort approaching 4 out, hung left and no extra 3 out, blundered 2 out, left 4th at the last, 4th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Red Riverman (10-9) at Exeter 2m 1f (3) gs in Oct.
Croco Bay (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Led, not fluent 8th, soon headed, weakened after 3 out, mistake 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Killala Quay (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jun, 8 ran.
Forty Crown (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, went 4th before 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression from next, 5th of 10, 16l behind Flicka Williams (11-12) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Nov.
Hi George 7-2fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, hit 5th, led before last, ridden and headed run-in, kept on and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Cruachan (10-6) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Jun.
Holywell (IRE) 4-5fav (11-2) Prominent, jumped left, mistake and lost place 2nd, jumped left at times after, not fluent 4th, slow 5th, not fluent 8th and given reminder, driven along before 4 out, no impression, went 3rd from last, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Many Clouds (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov.
Jukebox Melody (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 7 out, in a race won by Hollow Blue Sky (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Oct, 14 ran.
Scarlet Fire (IRE) 40-1 (10-13) Towards rear, outpaced 4 out, never dangerous, 10th of 20, 43l behind Thomas Crapper (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Nov.
Son Of Flicka 9-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, slow 10th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Dursey Sound (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Oct, 7 ran.
Star In Flight 18-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 3rd, led before 5th, headed next, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 47l behind Up To Something (11-5) at Carlisle 2m (3) gd in Oct.
