held up in 6th, pushed along after 4 out, kept on
held up in last pair, steady headway approaching 4 out, weakened before next
held up towards rear and keen, steady headway 3 out, went 2nd at the last, no chance with winner
made all, clear before 3 out, hit 2 out, kept on strongly, unchallenged
chased winner until 6th, chased leaders, outpaced before 2 out, plugged on again run-in
chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, no chance with winner, lost 2nd at the last, just held on for 3rd
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 6th, slightly hampered 4 out then outpaced, 7th and plenty to do last, rallied well run-in, almost snatched 3rd
well off the pace in last pair, dropped to rear and struggling 6th, no chance after
chased leaders, went 2nd 6th, blundered almost unseated rider and lost 2nd 4 out, chased leading pair, mistake 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
STRONG RESEMBLANCE (NAP) has been in superb form over hurdles and fences, gaining his third victory in four starts with an emphatic victory at Fakenham on Boxing Day. That was a conditionals' race so he has no penalty to carry and is impossible to oppose. Letemgo completed a hat-trick on testing ground early last year and has continued to run well from his much higher mark while both of Craiganboy's victories have been on this track though he has more to do than when landing a novice hurdle last time. Pistol will love the conditions and is back on his last winning mark but Ask The Tycoon has yet to prove he stays this far and was very disappointing at Hexham last month.
Gars Bar Dine (FR) 50-1 (11-12) Held up, ridden 4 out, never on terms, 8th of 10, dist behind Always Resolute (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Letemgo (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up behind, headway after 4 out, driven to chase leaders after next, ridden after 2 out, stayed on into 3rd flat, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 10, 16l behind Top Billing (10-0) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Craiganboy (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, headway into 2nd before, 2 lengths down when shaken up between last 2, soon challenged, led narrowly last, ridden out, won at Ayr 3m (4) hvy in Nov beating Vinnie Lewis (11-4) by 3l, 5 ran.
Strong Resemblance (IRE) 9-4 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, clear when hit 2 out, ran on, won at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Fearsome Fred (10-4) by 13l, 7 ran.
Ask The Tycoon (IRE) 6-4fav (11-10) Mid-division, driven 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 27 3/4l behind Sheriff Garrett (11-10) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Shtan On (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Held up behind, struggling before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 11, dist behind Road To Gold (11-10) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Pistol (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Slowly away, soon in touch, driven and lost place after 4 out, ridden and stayed on into 4th flat, no impression, 4th of 12, 15l behind Xpo Universel (10-0) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Marlee Massie (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders until 3rd, in touch after, pushed along 4 out, weakened next, last of 9, dist behind Tomkevi (11-11) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
No No Mac (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Led to 4th, pressed leader, driven and lost place before 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, 7th of 13, dist behind Bold Image (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
