tracked leader, led approaching 3 out, pitched on landing at 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat
always prominent, went 2nd and mistake 3 out, led approaching 2 out, all out flat
not jumped well, took keen hold in rear, lost touch after 5th, tailed off 6th, soon pulled up
held up, soon in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
led, not fluent 7th, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up, pushed along briefly 5th, in touch 7th, went third 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
Dropped into this grade CALZAGHE looks hard to oppose in this selling hurdle and he is taken to land a knockout blow ahead of Timetoring and Hard And Fast. Well treated by the way the race is framed the selection has never been tested over this far but based on his hat-trick of handicaps in November this should be a pretty straight forward assignment. Timetoring has a bit to find at the weights but did look good when scoring in a similar event after a break. He looked below par back in handicap company last time but should run his race now back in this grade. Hard and Fast has scored at this level but has been well held against similar opposition in the last two starts so looks to have place claims at best while Alternator looks the only other with realistic claims now dropped to racing at this standard. Not many turn up for this race and it's a really good opportunity for Calzaghe to win yet again.
Timetoring 7-2 (10-12) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened next, 9th of 13, 22l behind Delcombe (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy.
Alternator (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) In touch, ridden and weakened 3 out and blundered, 13th of 14, well behind Dantari (10-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Fear Anti (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Took keen hold in rear, not fluent 2nd, lost touch after 6th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Loom (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) hvy in Nov, 11 ran.
Hard And Fast (IRE) 5-2fav (10-7) Tracked leader, ridden after 6th, lost 2nd when not fluent 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Golden Globe (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) hvy in Nov.
Snow Kaddy 150-1 (10-9) Held up and keen, jumped slow 3rd, soon struggling, tailed off, pulled up after 7th, in a race won by Quentin Collonges (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs, 12 ran.
Blue Savannah (FR) 50-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden and one pace 2 out, 4th of 11, 8l behind Amir Pasha (11-1) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 3yo+ (5) gs.
Calzaghe (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, mistake 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, ridden and beaten soon after, 7th of 11, 22l behind Spirit River (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.