held up, headway to go in touch 6th, soon ridden and weakened
tracked leader, ridden and weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, behind and pulled up before last
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon one-paced, hit 2 out and last
towards rear, headway to go in touch 6th, ridden next, weakened from 2 out
held up towards rear, headway to track leader approaching 3 out, ridden and led next, hit 2 out, kept on well
led, hit 5th and next, ridden approaching 3 out, soon headed, kept on after last
Some in-form hurdlers in opposition but ex-Irish performer Talarive will prove hard to beat. Peter Niven's charge confirmed the promise of his British debut last month when a facile winner in similar conditions at Leicester last week and still looks ahead of the handicapper despite a 7lb penalty. Ambushed got off the mark over course and distance in November but that was a weak maiden hurdle event and a subsequent 2lb rise will make this much tougher while hat-trick seeking Political Sox has also been campaigned at a lesser grade. Spree Vision looks high enough in the weights while Backcraft has something to prove after a poor effort last time and Lanzlo returns from a four-month absence.
