pressed leader, every chance 3 out, weakened after next
held up, keen early, behind from 6th, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, soon driven, weakened after 2 out
mid-division on outside, headway approaching 3rd, ridden and weakened before 6th
keen early, always prominent, led 3 out, readily
keen early, mid-division, not fluent 1st, hung right and tried to close after 7th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, no chance when mistake last
prominent, ridden and weakened after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in rear, pushed along and behind from 6th
led, jumped left 5th, not fluent next, headed 3 out, weakened after 2 out
in touch, ridden 7th, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden after 2 out, weakened 2 out
in touch from 3rd, hit 2 out, soon went 2nd and every chance, switched left and held when hit last
behind, pushed along approaching 5th, soon detached, pulled up before 6th
prominent, not fluent 2nd and lost place, behind from 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mistake 3 out, always in rear
Keith Goldsworthy has his team firing on all cylinders and Hold Em looks capable of making a winning hurdling debut here, while Spare Cash is respected and Peter's Star could go well. Hold Em was good enough to defy penalties and win three bumpers in succession before only just failing to make it a 100 per cent record in that sphere. Timmy Murphy, who has ridden him in all four of his races to date gets the leg up again here, and clearly they get on well together. Although all his runs have been on good to firm, there is evidence on both sides of his pedigree that he will handle cut in the ground and so he is taken to score. Spare Cash has run well in defeat in two tries at Chepstow over hurdles and looks capable of at least holding that level of form. Of course, he will be popular with that experience of jumping already in the bag and from a good yard in fine form he must go close. Peters Star won a Bangor bumper but has looked nothing special over hurdles so far. However, he showed signs of improvement for the step up to a similar trip last time and can continue that upward curve. Cave Hill won a bumper here and is likely to go much better than last time given the yard's recent return to form, and Lit Up could go well at a price if handling the ground. The more open of the two divisions here can go to Hold Em.
Best Deal 66-1 (10-7) Raced keenly, held up in rear, not fluent 5th, weakened approaching 9th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Rebel Melody (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec, 12 ran.
Cave Hill (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon under pressure, never on terms, 6th of 16, 27l behind One Gulp (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Charlie Poole (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, never a factor, 9th of 16, 46l behind One Gulp (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Crank Hill 100-1 (10-5) In touch, ridden 6th, soon weakened, 6th of 17, 40l behind Lodge Lane (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Crossguard (USA) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, weaknened 6th, 10th of 17, well behind Sharajan (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Hold Em (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Took keen hold mid-division, headway and went 2nd 2f out, led narrowly over 1f out, hard driven final furlong, headed final stride, 2nd of 10, shd behind Uffa Fox (11-4) at Ascot 2m nhf Grd 2 (1) gf in Dec.
Lit Up (IRE) 4-9fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, driven along 6f out, led over 2f out, kept on, won at Exeter 2m 1f nhf (5) gf in Apr beating Doctor Kilbride (10-11) by 2l, 5 ran.
Master Marmalade 100-1 (10-12) Close up, weakened after 6th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Coe (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 7f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec, 15 ran.
Peel House 80-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, ridden and effort after 6th, weakened approaching 2 out, 10th of 17, well behind Lodge Lane (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Peters Star (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (11-0) In touch, mistake 6th, headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, mistake next, weakened before last, 3rd of 15, 16l behind Bennynthejets (10-11) at Catterick 2m 3f mdn hdl (5) gd in Dec.
Present Gale (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Mid-divison, behind from 6th, 12th of 17, well behind Sharajan (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Rock Alliance (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) In touch, ridden and weakened 3f out, 7th of 16, 15l behind Kingston Lane (11-2) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) gs in Nov.
Spare Cash (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders 3 out, every chance approaching last, stayed on well, 2nd of 15, 2l behind What A Friend (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Themanfrommayo Cloudings gelding, half-brother to several winners over jumps.
Zaffarans Scene 50-1 (11-2) Soon struggling in rear, tailed off, 11th of 14, 49l behind The Nightingale (10-13) at Wincanton 2m nhf (5) sft in Dec.
Graham's Girl 100-1 (10-5) Always in rear, 13th of 16, well behind Daraz Rose (10-5) at Ludlow 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
