tracked leader, led narrowly 9th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, no chance with winner approaching last, lost 2nd flat
led to after 3rd, tracked leaders, jumped slowly 6th, driven and outpaced approaching 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner
pulled hard, tracked leading pair, led after 3rd, headed 9th, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders on outside, went 3rd when pecked 6th, joined leader 9th, led 2 out, soon well in command, unextended, very easily
Mister Stickler's defeat of Betabob at Wincanton was given a boost by the runner-up's subsequent success at Leicester. Pascha Bere will have to jump a lot better than he did when winning at Plumpton, however, if he's to follow up here though that was his first appearance over the larger obstacles and he was a very decent hurdler on his day. But Nick Gifford's eight-year-old wasn't anywhere as good as STARLUCK over timber and Alan Fleming's charge should make a winning start over fences here if his jumping is up to scratch. Fifth in last year's Champion Hurdle and placed in the last two runnings of the Christmas Hurdle, the six-year-old is arguably one of the classiest recruits to chasing in the last couple of years though he'll have to impress if he's to justify an entry in next month's Arkle Chase at The Festival.
Mister Stickler (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Chased leader, led approaching 3 out, strongly pressed flat, held on, all out, won at Wincanton 2m nov chs (2) gs beating Betabob (10-0) by nk, 4 ran.
Pascha Bere (FR) 11-4 (11-0) Chased leader, led approaching 2nd, joined bypassing normal 4 out, briefly headed after next, clear advantage before 2 out, easily, won at Plumpton 2m 1f beg chase (4) hvy beating Norman The Great (11-0) by 18l, 5 ran.
Hi Tide (IRE) 66-1 (11-1) Took keen hold, held up, left close 2nd 6th, led next until 3 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 4, well behind Harry Tricker (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Starluck (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Raced wide, tracked leaders, headway 3 out, driven and outpaced approaching next, soon ridden, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Binocular (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Jan.
