jumped well, pressed leader, led 4th, made rest, increased tempo before 3 out, in command from 2 out, stayed on well flat
behind, slow 1st, went modest 4th 9th, outpaced from 10th, stayed on from last, went remote 3rd close home, tailed off
chased leading pair, went right 8th, outpaced when hit 10th, no chance with leading duo after, lost remote 3rd close home
jumped left, led until 4th, chased winner until slow 6th, weakened next, tailed off 10th, pulled up before next
not always fluent, tracked leading trio, went 2nd 6th, mistake 11th, going well enough before 3 out, ridden found no extra and held from 2 out
The days when Straw Bear was beating the likes of Harchibald in the Christmas Hurdle are long gone but he's still only ten and was having his first start for over a year when third behind Quantitativeeasing over 2m6f here three weeks ago. He could still have some improvement over fences in him though the potential of DEFINITY may prove too much here. Paul Nicholls charge, a point-to-point and dual novice hurdle winner, was returning from an even longer break when blowing up over three miles at Exeter last month and that should have done him the world of good. Chase debutant L'Homme De Nuit looks the one to take advantage if the principals don't come up to scratch.
Definity (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up in touch and keen, ridden and weakened 2 out mistake last, 4th of 8, 16l behind Wymott (11-7) at Exeter 3m nov chs (4) gs in Dec.
L'Homme de Nuit (GER) 16-1 (11-9) Raced wide, mid-division, lost place 6th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Maraafeq (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Feb, 12 ran.
Paddy The Yank (IRE) 16-1 (12-3) Hdwy 8; wknd app 3 out, 5th of 14, 19l behind Blejan Eyhre (11-7) at Woodford 3m ptp gd in Apr.
Prince du Beury (FR) 9-2 (11-11) Held up towards rear, slightly hampered 2nd, ridden and weakened after 4 out, 5th of 7, 11l behind La Pantera Rosa (11-4) at Doncaster 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
Straw Bear (USA) 12-1 (11-0) Took keen hold and not always fluent, held up 4th, 3rd from 4 out, not fluent next, no impression on front duo from 2 out, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Quantitativeeasing (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (4) hvy.
