tracked leaders, went 2nd and effort 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression with winner before last
made virtually all, driven clear 2 out, stayed on well
with winner, not fluent and reminder 7th, lost place when blundered 9th, lost touch 5 out, soon pulled up
tracked leaders on outside, close up 9th, pecked 11th, driven 4 out, kept on same pace, weakened before last
tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 5 out, went 3rd 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression from next
Brian Ellison has his horses firing on all cylinders and YESYOUCAN should can enhance the yard's recent record. A useful handicap hurdler, he easily landed a novice chase at Newcastle over today's trip before finding 2m too short at Carlisle and this looks his for the taking. Pistol looks the main threat despite a less than convincing chasing debut at Exeter as he was a progressive hurdler who will have learned from that experience. My Idea won a novices' handicap at Musselburgh in November but is untested in these conditions while chasing debutants Mitchell's Way and Alf The Audacious have plenty to find on hurdles form, though the former looks a likely type for the bigger obstacles.
My Idea 7-2 (11-2) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway 9th, went 4th from 5 out, pushed along next, went 3rd from 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 15l behind Lord Of Drums (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f (4) gd in Dec.
Yesyoucan (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Tracked leader, not fluent 1st, blundered and lost 2nd 4th, chased leading pair, well held when hit 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Eduard (11-0) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) gs in Dec.
Alf The Audacious 11-4fav (11-6) In touch, blundered 7th, weakened 4 out, 7th of 8, well behind Pudsey House (11-6) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Mitchell's Way 9-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, weakened before 2 out, last of 13, well behind Zaplamation (10-4) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Pistol (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Tracked winner, well held when blundered badly 3 out, soon lost 2nd, one pace, 3rd of 5, 22l behind Caid Du Berlais (10-7) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (2) gd in Dec.
