held up in rear and keen, blundered 7th, pushed along and weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked winner, briefly outpaced before 3 out, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, weakened before last
made all, ridden before last, kept on well
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, ridden before last, hung left briefly run-in, kept on same pace
held up in touch, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, mistakes throughout, weakened before 5 out, tailed off, pulled up before last
A dual bumper winner. WESTERN RULES was aimed high on his hurdling bow in a Grade 2 at Aintree in April. He'll find this much easier and is hard to oppose. Weyburn has a debut third at Punchestown to recommend him though but disappointed on his reappearance at Southwell while Jackofhearts was placed at Perth in September and can figure with a repeat. Point-to-point winner Jonniesofa never figured on his recent hurdling debut but will likely improve and looks best of the rest.
Egon Spenglar 80-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, weakened 4f out, 14th of 16, dist behind Western Rules (11-7) at Newcastle 2m (6) sft in Dec.
Jackofhearts 33-1 (11-2) Always behind, 11th of 13, 29 1/4l behind Abricot De L'oasis (11-12) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Jonniesofa (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Held up, headway chasing leaders 7th, 2nd after 8th, pushed along before 3 out, lost 2nd next, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Western Miller (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
Western Rules (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden and no impression final 3f, 14th of 19, 29 3/4l behind Barters Hill (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Weyburn (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Held up rear division, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 13, 24 1/4l behind Western Cape (11-4) at Southwell 2m mdn (6) gd in Oct.
Just Annie 22-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, one pace, 7th of 12, 29 3/4l behind Knocklayde Express (11-2) at Kelso 2m (6) gs in Feb.
