jumped well, tracked leader, dived at 4th, slight lead 9th, left well clear next
never fluent, well off the pace in 3rd, hit 2nd, left remote 2nd 10th, went left 2 out and last
soon well off the pace in last, lost touch 5th, left remote 3rd 10th, jumped right final 2
led, narrowly headed 9th, chased winner, 1/2 length down when fell next
Four times a winner over hurdles, BARON ALCO made a promising start over fences when a close-up third at Cheltenham to higher rated opposition than this. Gary Moore’s charge looks the one to beat on that form. Wishing And Hoping also fared well enough on his chasing bow when a runner-up at Bangor and the latter should have the measure of both Coole Charmer and Due South.
Baron Alco (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Tracked winner, not fluent 2nd, every chance when not fluent last, no impression on winner and lost 2nd flat, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Marracudja (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct.
Coole Charmer (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Held up in 4th, mistake 3rd, headway to dispute 2nd after 13th, lost place after 4 out, soon weakened, last of 5, dist behind Thistlecrack (11-0) at Chepstow 3m (3) gs in Oct.
Due South (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, lost place before 3rd, behind from next, 7th of 9, dist behind Clondaw Cian (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) sft in Nov.
Wishing And Hoping (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Led, blundered 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on and held run-in, 2nd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Value At Risk (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
