held up towards rear, headway 12th, not fluent and lost place next, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, jumped right and not fluent 6th, weakened 2 out `
held up towards rear, jumped left and not fluent 7th, went left next, mistake 9th, behind 13th
mistake 4th, always well behind
made all, jumped left 4th, clear 3 out, jumped left and mistake 2 out, reduced lead from last, stayed on
chased winner, mistake 12th, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened last
chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on, unable to trouble winner
held up, not fluent 9th, weakened 13th
held up, headway on outside 13th, 3rd from 2 out, no impression, weakened flat
Speedalong makes his chasing bow having gone close over hurdles on his last couple of outings and Appletree Lane has been placed over timber off similar marks as she also goes chasing for the first time. Land League has won a maiden hurdle though has yet to figure over the larger obstacles so BESTWORK (NAP) makes most appeal. He showed good progress over fences earlier this year when winning three times and a recent close-up fifth at Warwick suggest he can score again off today’s mark.
Bigpipenotobacee (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Held up, closed after 8th, fell 9th, at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Land League (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Tracked leaders until ridden and dropped to rear 8th, left 4th 4 out, outpaced and jumped right last 2, 4th of 5, 15 1/2l behind Movie Legend (11-12) at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Speedalong (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, tracked leader in very slow run race, led 4th, quickened pace after 6th, pushed along before 2 out, headed approaching last, still, every chance flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Shadow's Boy (11-10) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
King Cool 10-1 (11-3) Never fluent always in rear, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Eyesopenwideawake (11-8) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Bestwork (FR) 7-1 (11-13) Led, headed when ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, no extra and lost place flat, 5th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Jarlath (11-11) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Whin Park 12-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, struggling when pulled up 4 out, at Taunton 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Kincora Fort (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened next, 6th of 15, 16 1/2l behind Knocknamona (10-0) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
As You Like (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway before 4 out, weakened from 3 out, left poor 3rd from next, soon pulled up, at Exeter 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Appletree Lane 20-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders on inside, lost place 3rd, ridden 7th, faltered before 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, 4th of 10, 15 1/4l behind Cosmic Diamond (10-13) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
