tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, headway before 2 out, went 3rd and weakened before last, pulled up before last
led, ridden and headed last, no extra towards finish
tracked leaders in 4th, blundered 3 out, soon reminders, tailed off after 3 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, soon with leader, ridden before 2 out, weakened soon after
held up mid-division, soo dropped towards rear, headway on outer before 2 out, led last, kept on well
held up towards rear, headway to go 3rd before 2 out, soon ridden, weakened before last
held up mid-division, tracked leaders and keen before 4 out, challenged 2 out, every chance last, weakened towards finish
always towards rear, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last
It will be interesting to see how Sweeps Hill fares today. He's been absent for a long time but was, at different times, regarded as a Champion Hurdle and a Gold Cup prospect when trained in Ireland. Sunny Ledgend, Fishing Bridge and veteran Round The Horn may also need this while Spirit River has been racing in point-to-points but Astigos was third at Market Rasen on Thursday and can figure if taking his chance. OSCAR PRAIRIE retains plenty of ability and is eased in grade here. With a 10lb claimer taking over the reins, the nine-year-old could end his losing run as Pure Science is proving a disappointment over hurdles and Phare Isle was beaten when falling at Huntingdon at the start of the month.
Spirit River (FR) 13-2 (12-0) Held up; hdwy 11; led 3 out; sn hdd; ev ch last; no ex flat, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Cock Of The Rock (12-7) at Cornwall Hunt Club 3m ptp gs in Dec.
Sweeps Hill (NZ) 4-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, closed travelling well before straight, led under 1f out and soon clear, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Galway 2m 1f nov chs (1) hvy in Oct '11 beating Regal D'estruval (11-1) by 6l, 6 ran.
Sunny Ledgend 40-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, mistake 9th, weakened after 12th, 6th of 7, well behind Captain Conan (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Fishing Bridge (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, led 3 out, mistake next, driven when left well clear at last, eased near finish, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar beating Edgar Jones (10-12) by 28l, 10 ran.
Pure Science (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, one pace 2 out, well held by leaders last, 4th of 10, 13l behind Awaywiththegreys (11-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
Oscar Prairie (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Always in rear, 4th of 8, 44l behind Champagne West (10-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Astigos (FR) 2-1 (10-3) Led, jumped left at times, headed after 6th, led next, ridden and headed before 2 out, switched right flat, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Lamps (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) hvy.
Phare Isle (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, ridden and one pace before 2 out, disputing 7 lengths 4th when fell last, in a race won by Beauboreen (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy, 6 ran.
Round The Horn (IRE) 40-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next, 11th of 14, 43l behind Amigo (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan '13.
American Life (FR) 4-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 4 out, effort when jumped left last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind The Young Master (11-2) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy.
