towards rear, headway before 3 out, in 4th before 2 out, soon weakened
led, headed after 2nd, weakened before 3 out
in rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened
in touch, pressed from 3 out, led before 2 out, quickened clear before last
mid-division, pushed along 4 out, weakened from 3 out
mid-division, headway after 4 out, to chase leaders, ridden before 3 out, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, no chance with winner
close up, led from 3rd, headed and ridden before 2 out, kept on and lost 2nd place towards finish
soon in rear, pushed along before 3 out, never dangerous
towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before 3 out
tracked leader, led after 2nd, headed 3rd, jumped left 4th, weakened before 3 out
DOCTOR PHOENIX (NAP) was clear of the remainder when running Scorpiancer to a length over a longer trip at Ludlow last month. Conditions here should bring his stamina into a play and he can open his account over hurdles having already won a point-to-point. Luccombe Down makes his hurdling debut having been absent since winning a Hexham bumper in October and another winning bumper, Bobs Lord Tara, has an even longer absence to overcome. They are probably best watched but Wetherby third Monbeg River looks to be improving, as does Ayr runner-up Make It Happen, and Redkalani will have learned plenty from his fourth over 2m4f here last month.
Bobs Lord Tara 7-2 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway on wide outside halfway, chased leaders 6f out, effort and edged left over 3f out, led over 2f out, soon hung left, headed over 1f out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 10l behind Ma du Fou (10-13) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (6) gs in Apr.
Clan Legend 100-1 (10-13) Blundered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Three Faces West (11-4) at Ayr 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Daring Exit 66-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway into modest 4th before 3 out, one pace and never any chance with leading trio, weakened before the last, 6th of 12, 35l behind Lovely Job (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Doctor Phoenix (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, led before 3 out and going well, ridden before last, headed run-in, one pace, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Scorpiancer (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Luccombe Down 5-2fav (10-11) Held up mid-division, headway over 5f out, led over 1f out, kept on run-in, won at Hexham 2m cond NH flat (6) gs in Oct beating Iffjack (10-11) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Make It Happen (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Prominent, led before 3 out, headed before last, one pace, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Warriors Tale (11-0) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Monbeg River (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Towards rear, headway 5 out, led last headed run-in, no extra, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Beg To Differ (11-4) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Redkalani (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, outpaced before 3 out, rallied into modest 4th before the last, 4th of 12, 28l behind Lovely Job (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Treliver Manor (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 32l behind Roserrow (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Valnamixe Du Mee (FR) 50-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, tracked leader until 4f out, soon short on room and lost place, weakened over 2f out, tailed off, 6th of 9, 45l behind Shades Of Midnight (10-5) at Hexham 2m NH flat (6) gs in Apr.
