in touch and keen, not fluent 5th, led before 2 out, soon clear, ran on well
tracked leaders in 3rd, {} ridden 2 out, kept on same pace
with leader, lost place quickly after 5 out
in rear, jumped slow 1st, pushed along after 5th, soon tailed off, pulled up
led, pushed along and headed before 2 out, kept on and no chance with winner
held up mid-division on inner, went 4th before 2 out, one pace and no impression
always towards rear, weakened from 3 out
held up in touch, pushed along before 5 out, blundered 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, pushed along before 5 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, pushed along 5 out, outpaced before next
ARBRE DE VIE represents leading Irish trainer Willie Mullins and the Fairyhouse maiden hurdle winner looks capable of landing this. Kingscourt Native won a novices' event at Kempton last month and can figure but Nightline failed to cope with a penalty at Wetherby for an earlier win at Southwell. Colin's Brother never threatened when third at Ludlow last time and needs to sharpen up his jumping if he is to trouble the judges and the remainder are even harder to fancy.
Arbre De Vie (FR) 2-5fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 3rd, 3rd after 5th, not fluent 7th, closer in 2nd at next, soon on terms and led, not fluent 3 out, asserted from before last, ridden out run-in, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Dec beating Catalaunian Fields (11-4) by 8l, 16 ran.
Kingscourt Native (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Raced wide and waited with in last pair, dropped to rear 7th, smooth headway tracking leaders approaching 3 out, taken wide into straight and led before 2 out, clear after 2 out, hit last, readily, won at Kempton 3m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Jan beating Relentless Dreamer (11-8) by 9l, 6 ran.
Nightline 10-1 (11-12) Led, headed 2 out, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 11l behind Kylemore Lough (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) gs in Jan.
Bee Bumble Alflora gelding out of Shadowgraff.
Big Jim 16-1 (10-12) Held up in last pair, headway approaching 5th, mistake next, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Sugar Baron (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3f nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Colin's Brother 4-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, mistake 4 out, every chance before next, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 16, 12l behind Shanroe Santos (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Springboks (IRE) 100-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, some headway 6th, never on terms, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 11, well behind Fletchers Flyer (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Tikkapick (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, tailed off 4 out, 7th of 12, well behind Scorpiancer (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Chance Taken 20-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway before 6th, close up before 4 out until 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 14, 47l behind Morello Royale (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mares NH nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Little Mix 40-1 (10-7) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd 4f out, soon pushed along and every chance entering home straight, ridden 3f out, not much room soon after, weakened quickly over 2f out, 12th of 16, well behind The Eaglehaslanded (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
