in rear, ridden 3 out, never on terms
tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, ridden out
keen, tracked leader, ridden to chase winner 2 out, kept on one pace, pressed for 2nd near finish
held up, ridden 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up before next
led, hit 3 out, ridden and headed approaching next, not fluent last, kept on same pace
close up, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
towards rear, headway 7th, hit next, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
close up, ridden and lost place 6th
pulled hard, held up, headway 5th, close up, ridden and no impression 2 out, driven and stayed on to press for 2nd near finish
North Country Boy’s fourth here came in April last year and NEW EDITION (NAP) is preferred on his recent second to Vivas over these hurdles, his first start over timber since 2013. Philip Kirby’s charge is also preferred to Green Zone, placed at Ayr before failing to complete at Musselburgh. The Last Bar continues to struggle while Chic Theatre and First Fandango drop in class but have shown little since returning to action.
First Fandango 50-1 (10-11) Well behind from 3rd, 9th of 12, dist behind Brelan D'as (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Chic Theatre (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Held up on inside, headway after 4 out, one pace on last bend, weakened, 7th of 15, 22 3/4l behind Behind Time (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Crookstown (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Mid-division, ridden and struggling when not fluent 5th, mistake 3 out, soon pulled up, at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
North Country Boy 9-2 (11-0) Close up, tracked leaders soon after 5th, ridden 4 out, plugged on same pace, 4th of 7, 5 1/4l behind Gold Present (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 3f (4) gd in Apr.
Mr Snoozy 16-1 (11-11) Led to 3rd, remained close up, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 11, 25 3/4l behind Theatrebar (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
The Last Bar 5-1 (11-11) In rear, outpaced before 5th, weakened from 3 out, soon pulled up, at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Green Zone (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Towards rear, mistake 4th, not fluent next, blundered badly 7th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out, at Musselburgh 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Tiger Twenty Two 10-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, behind after ridden and kept on from last, never on terms, 6th of 9, 16 1/4l behind Beat The Tide (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Next Edition (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Keen, held up, headway 4 out, led on long run to 2 out, ridden and headed flat, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Vivas (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
