held up, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before next
tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, soon ridden and lost place, weakened next, tailed off
mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders approaching next, went 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
behind, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, smooth headway to challenge when left in lead 3 out, drew clear between last 2, driven out comfortably
led and clear to 4th, headed 3 out, soon outpaced, lost 2nd next, no impression
mid-division on inside, lost place after 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off when pulled up before next
tracked leader, headway to challenge after 4 out, led narrowly when fell next
in touch, driven and outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division on outside, lost place 4th, ridden and lost touch 6th, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out
Nonrunner
A race that would not look out of place at Cheltenham in March and we will take GULLIBLE GORDON to get the better of On Raglan Road and Junior. Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has a strong team making their way to Town Moor from Ditcheat and none more so than Gullible Gordon. The six-year-old has admittedly taken a bit of time to get the hang of hurdling, but he relished soft ground when trouncing the opposition at Taunton last time. He has been put up 20lbs for that, which does not seem unreasonable and as a lightly-raced type he is open to plenty more improvement. On Raglan Road won his first hurdle start by half the length of the Hexham home straight and he has gone on to finish second in a similar race to this at Sandown last time. The return to three miles may well be a positive, and the booking of A P McCoy certainly is, and he must go close today. Junior is 6lbs worse off with On Raglan Road for beating him by four lengths in that same Sandown contest, and he might struggle to confirm those placings as a result, but he looks sure to be thereabouts. Stablemate Midnight Sail won an Ascot maiden hurdle last month and may be able to show more improvement for this longer trip, though he will surely need to. Cape Tribulation has not yet received an official BHA rating but is probably somewhere around the mid-120s. The ground suits and if he stays this far then he has each-way claims. Star Lord thrashed his field at Huntingdon last time and his in-form stable will have hopes that he can maintain his upward curve and show up well again. Martys Mission is unexposed and was able to cruise home at Folkestone last time. He could show even more now back up in distance and the market might be the best clue to his chances, but in a fascinating contest we will side with Gullible Gordon.
Diablo (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, went prominent 6th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, last of 16, well behind Fair Along (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Gullible Gordon (IRE) 5-2fav (11-7) Tracked leader, led 8th, drew clear after 3 out, easily, won at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec beating Kayf Aramis (11-7) by 13l, 10 ran.
Junior 8-1 (11-7) Held up in 5th, headway to chase winner from 3 out, no impression 2 out, edged left before last, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Diamond Harry (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec.
Midnight Sail 7-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, close 3rd when mistake next, responded well to pressure, led soon after last, stayed on strongly, won at Ascot 2m 6f nh mdn hdl (3) gs in Dec beating Fistral Beach (11-0) by 2l, 16 ran.
Cape Tribulation 7-4fav (10-12) Always prominent, not fluent 7th, went 2nd 8th, mistake next, led 3 out, jumped slightly left final 2, stayed on well, eased close home, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating Ogee (11-5) by 5l, 13 ran.
Grizebeck (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, challenged 3 out, driven and weakened before next, 5th of 7, 24l behind Junior (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Martys Mission (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Tracked leader, hit 2 out, led well before last, raced clear run in, comfortably, won at Folkestone 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating The Old Pretender (10-12) by 8l, 5 ran.
On Raglan Road (IRE) 8-13fav (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, ridden and hit last, no extra flat, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Junior (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Star Lord (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Held up, slightly hampered 1st, headway 5th, challenged soon after 3 out, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, hit last, ran on well, won at Huntingdon 3m 2f nov hdl (4) gd in Dec beating Dunkelly Castle (10-12) by 12l, 11 ran.
Ballysimon (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 9th of 13, well behind Comhla Ri Coig (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Toby Belch (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) In touch in main group, chased leader 6, limped just after 3 out, soon ridden, moved left and headed 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Bensalem (11-4) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
