tracked leader, led 4th, clear after 3 out, idled after last, stayed on well
prominent, led 3rd, headed next, weakened 4 out
behind, headway 4 out, chased leaders under pressure next, never able to challenge
held up in touch, mistake 3rd, under pressure 4 out, stayed on same pace after next
chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, ridden next, kept on well after last, never reached winner
behind, struggling 5 out, soon beaten, tailed off
mid-division, weakened before 4 out
led, headed when mistake 3rd, remained prominent, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, lost place 4 out
in touch, weakening when fell 4 out
held up towards rear, beaten when mistake 2 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, jumped slowly 1st and 5th, beaten before 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
Rather Be is penalised for winning at Hereford in October which should hand the initiative to FORZA MILAN. Jonjo O’Neill’s charge found only one too good over today’s trip at Ffos Las on his hurdling bow and normal progress should see him bang there at the finish. Bumper winner Markov is a headstrong type and failed to complete on his hurdling debut having led until turning into the home straight but Chateau Robin ran well for a long way at Towcester last month, though faded badly in the closing stages. Rollo's Reflection was narrowly beaten in a bumper back in June and is worth noting on his hurdling debut.
Rather Be (IRE) 1-2fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway before 4 out, led after 2 out, kept on well, won at Hereford 2m (4) gd in Oct beating The Blue Bomber (10-12) by 7l, 9 ran.
Chateau Robin (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Prominent, not fluent 1st, not fluent and every chance 3 out, led but soon headed and bumped, no extra 2 out, 5th of 14, 24l behind Druid's Folly (10-12) at Towcester 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov.
Dawn Missile 16-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden and struggling 4 out, soon weakened, 12th of 18, dist behind Willoughby Court (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Derrick D'Anjou (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Tracked winner until 5 out, lost place after 4 out, last of 6, 37 3/4l behind Cracking Find (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
Forza Milan (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) In touch, headway to chase leading pair 3 out, ridden to press winner next, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Gayebury (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Nov.
Free Return (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Behind, some late moderate headway, never on terms, 7th of 13, 35 1/4l behind London Prize (10-12) at Leicester 2m (4) gd in Dec.
Magic Bullet (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, well beaten after 3 out, mistake 2 out, 12th of 16, dist behind Glaring (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Markov (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Led, not fluent 4th, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next, at Towcester 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov.
Stick To The Plan (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Towards rear, some headway from 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 25 1/2l behind Constantine Bay (10-12) at Haydock 2m 3f (3) hvy in Nov.
Torhousemuir 150-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden after 3 out, one pace in 5th when not fluent 2 out, no extra, 5th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Finula (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (5) gs in Nov.
Xhale (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Held up, in rear, some headway on inside approaching 3 out, ridden and struggling towards rear when mistake 2 out,, 10th of 13, dist behind London Prize (10-12) at Leicester 2m (4) gd in Dec.
Midnight Bliss 100-1 (10-7) Keen, tracked leader until weakened quickly before 2 out, last of 7, dist behind Eamon An Cnoic (11-0) at Fakenham 2m mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Rollo's Reflection (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 4th, led over 1f out, headed narrowly last 50 yards, just held close home, 2nd of 5, shd behind Mont Choisy (11-0) at Worcester 2m (6) gf in Jun.
