held up, headway 8th, chased winner next, challenged 3 out, ridden and beaten 2 out
tracked leaders, pushed along, close 3rd when fell 4 out
made most until jumped slowly 8th, weakened before next, behind when pulled up before 4 out
held up in last, driven along after 7th, progress to go 3rd approaching 4 out, hung left approaching 3 out, no impression
always prominent, mistake 3rd, led 8th, ridden after 3 out, inclined to go left, drew clear from 2 out, stayed on strongly, eased towards finish
with leader until 8th, soon ridden, weakening when hampered 4 out
A top quality start to the meeting in which the vote goes to Black Jack Ketchum ahead of last-year's winner Mighty Man, Inglis Drever and Blazing Bailey. Having strolled to victory as a novice at this meeting last year, Jonjo O'Neill's stable star is fancied to make amends for letting backers down twice in his last two outings. He only got as far as the second flight of hurdles last time out but his jumping is normally exemplary and now he has got his favoured good ground, he could have too much class. Last-year's winner Mighty Man was staying on strongly in the World Hurdle when beaten three-quarters of a length by Inglis Drever however this renewal looks much stronger than last-year's and if this race isn't run at a strong pace, he may just get tapped for toe when the sprint is on. Blazing Bailey ran well here last year but could be up against it yet again having been behind Inglis Drever and Mighty Man last time out. He has age on his side though and could be a potent force next year. Inglis Drever takes a bit of knowing but jockey Paddy Brennan is learning fast and seems to have struck up a good relationship and he looks nailed on to be involved in the finish. However Jonjo O'Neill will be out for compensation and so we will return to Black Jack Ketchum to make his class tell and score.
Black Jack Ketchum (IRE) 4-7fav (11-8) Held up in touch, headway on bit approaching 2 out, soon upsides with leader, weakened badly between last 2, finished tired, 5th of 9, 35l behind Blazing Bailey (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Blazing Bailey 14-1 (11-0) Held up, steady headway 3 out, switched left to inside and led well before last, quickened clear, soon in command, kept on strongly, won at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Inglis Drever (11-8) by 4l, 9 ran.
Fire Dragon (IRE) 100-1 (11-8) Behind when stumbled badly 5th and pulled up at the 6th in race won by Blazing Bailey (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan, 9 ran.
Inglis Drever 9-2 (11-8) In touch, headway on wide outside to track leaders approaching 2 out, went 2nd soon after last, stayed on flat, no impression, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Blazing Bailey (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Mighty Man (FR) 8-11fav (11-7) Held up, hit 4th, headway and mistake 10th, led approaching 2 out, stayed on, ridden out, won at Ascot 3m 1f hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec beating Lough Derg (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Lough Derg (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, ridden 9th, outpaced after 2 out, 4th of 9, 34l behind Blazing Bailey (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
