close up, pressed leader 2 out, led approaching last, ridden out
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, close 4th when fell last
led, slow 13th, ridden next, headed 3 out, weakened next
in touch, headway to track leaders 2 out, close 3rd when stumbled on landing last, not recover
in touch in rear, not fluent 2nd, blundered 10th and rider briefly lost iron, outpaced 2 out, kept on flat
tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, stayed on
Winning form on this very sharp track is usually a plus and half of this field have at least one course victory to their name. Recent scorer More Than Luck has more scope than Morney Wing and Halo Moon but Holly Bush Henry is eased in grade after finishing fourth at Kempton and James Bowen’s claim is a massive plus in a race like this. POPELYS GULL (NAP) lost nothing in defeat against a well-handicapped rival here last month having won at Wetherby in the autumn. His stable’s strike-rate here in chases is exceptional and the six-year-old has only been raised a pound. The Boss's Dream only made his chasing debut at Huntingdon 10 days ago and was well beaten – he may need more time.
Holly Bush Henry (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Held up in last pair, mistake 2nd, not fluent 12th, went 4th 4 out, outpaced before next, hung right after, 4th of 7, 15 1/4l behind Tintern Theatre (11-4) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Popelys Gull (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, ridden and headway 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Creep Desbois (11-7) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
The Boss's Dream (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Led until jumped left 4th, struggling 3 out, well held 4th 2 out, 3rd of 7, 26l behind Terrefort (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Halo Moon 20-1 (12-1) Behind, mistake 6th, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, never on terms, 7th of 11, 17 1/2l behind Siruh Du Lac (10-10) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
More Than Luck (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) Keen close up in rear, tracked leaders 3rd, led passing omitted 4 out, ridden and briefly headed last, soon bumped and led again, ridden out, won at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Minella Gathering (10-11) by nk, 6 ran.
Morney Wing (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Led, ridden after 4 out, headed next, weakened after 2 out, well beaten in 4th when refused last, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
