WETLANDS won a Newcastle bumper in March and has improved with each run over hurdles, having had little more than an exercise gallop on heavy ground here last month for which he has a 6lb penalty. He'll be a warm order here despite having to concede 16lb to Without Conviction, a close third in a bumper here in November and making her hurdling debut. Scots Sonnet showed nothing in bumpers three years ago but was running reasonably well on the Flat last summer without winning and may prove best of the remainder.
Wetlands (IRE) 1-5fav (11-7) Jumped slickly, tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, led after 3 out (normal 4 out), clear before 2 out, very easily, won at Ayr 2m mdn (4) hvy in Dec beating East Harlem (11-7) by 28l, 10 ran.
Fudgeman (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Ran green, led at steady pace, soon headed and restrained in midfield, relegated to rear end of back straight, ridden and no impression home straight, eased close home, 7th of 8, 31l behind Travail D'orfevre (11-4) at Ayr 2m (5) hvy in Nov.
Let There Be Love (IRE) 400-1 (11-8) Midfield, lost place and towards rear 6th, lost touch with main group and ridden when blundered 3 out, awkward 2 out, kept on from last, 5th of 10, 25 1/4l behind Unohu (11-8) at Ayr 2m mdn (4) hvy in Nov.
Platinumcard (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Midfield, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, dist behind Tommy's Oscar (11-5) at Newcastle 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Royal Rank 28-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway into midfield entering home straight, weakened quickly over 1f out, 6th of 8, 23l behind Travail D'orfevre (11-4) at Ayr 2m (5) hvy in Nov.
Scots Sonnet 3-1fav (9-7) Just better than mid-division, pushed along before 2f out, kept on well to lead inside final furlong, just denied closing stages, 2nd of 14, nk behind Man Of Verve (9-3) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Sep.
Without Conviction (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Midfield, niggled along and headway over 3f out, outpaced by front pair over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, 3rd of 11, 24l behind Hollymount (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f (5) sft in Dec.
