led, driven and headed before 2 out, lost place before last, weakened flat
held up behind, headway on outside after 6th, effort 2 out, soon chased winner, kept on same pace, ridden and no impression when lost 2nd flat
in touch on outside, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, lost place last, weakened flat
not fluent 1st, prominent until lost place and behind after 2nd, ridden after 3 out, not fluent last, kept on flat, never going pace to challenge
held up in touch, ridden after 2 out, one pace when hit last, never on terms
held up in touch, driven before 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, never able to challenge
tracked leaders on inside, driven 2f out, ridden and stayed on to take 2nd flat, no impression with winner
tracked leaders, close up when blundered and rider lost iron briefly 2 out, soon lost place, ridden and stayed on flat, no impression
A few of these revert to hurdling including Like The Sound, who won a chase at Taunton back in March. But READY AND ABLE returned from a lay-off with a victory last year and can race off the same mark as when scoring over fences at Southwell in July. Jonjo O’Neill’s charge is also preferred to Senor Lombardy, who has a more recent outing in a chase while only a length separated Back On The Lash and Rapper over timber at Cheltenham last time though neither threatened. Regarding Ruth won at Fakenham recently but is 9lb higher in a tougher contest while Teescomponents Lad drops back down in class after struggling in a Grade 2 hurdle.
Like The Sound (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Chased leading pair, 2nd 8th until 10th, chased leaders, 2nd again 17th, led after 4 out, clear before next, driven out, won at Taunton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Pobbles Bay (11-6) by 1l, 5 ran.
Ready And Able (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked rival pair, driven after 4 out, chased leader before next, ridden to lead when hung badly left between last 2, found little flat, just held on, all out, won at Southwell 3m (4) gd in Jul beating Kings Ryde (11-0) by hd, 3 ran.
Senor Lombardy (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Raced keenly, held up in rear, closer in 4th when mistake 9th, mistake and struggling 13th, blundered 15th, plugged on, never any chance, 4th of 5, 20l behind Sam Spinner (11-10) at Wetherby 3m (4) gs in Nov.
Teescomponents Lad 50-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 7, dist behind The Worlds End (11-0) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Dadsintrouble (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Raced on inside, tracked leading pair, not fluent 4th, awkward 6th, mistake 9th, ridden and no extra in 4th between last 2, last of 4, 19 3/4l behind Tea Time Fred (10-11) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Rapper 8-1 (10-13) In touch on inside, driven after 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression before last, 7th of 17, 11 1/4l behind Duke Street (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Back On The Lash 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, driven after 2 out, one pace before last, ridden and kept on flat, no impression, 5th of 17, 10 1/4l behind Duke Street (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Copper Gone West (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Towards rear, jumped right 7th, struggling after next, well beaten 2 out, pulled up before last, at Stratford 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Regarding Ruth (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led soon after 3 out, clear approaching last, ran on, comfortable, won at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Todd (11-0) by 5l, 6 ran.
