in touch, never jumped well, weakened 3 out, pulled up next
prominent, crumpled badly on landing and unseated rider 7th
chased leaders, driven into 2nd 5 out, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, headway 4 out, went 2nd after next, ridden to challenge last, stayed on under pressure to lead closing stages, ridden out (2 fences omitted)
prominent, led 9th, driven clear 2 out, headed after last, no extra
led until 9th, ridden and mistake 4 out, weakened next, modest 4th
held up in rear, driven 10th, soon under pressure weakened 3 out, tailed off
The handicapper has taken a real chance with course and distance winner IRISH OCTAVE, dropping him a further 2lb even though he was closing on the leaders when falling last time at Warwick. He’s had wind surgery since and has an excellent strike-rate over fences. The lightly-raced Rhaegar made a winning start over fences at Southwell but didn’t run up to that form upped in grade at Lingfield. However, Richard Johnson is a taking jockey booking while there should be more to come over the larger obstacles from both Holdbacktheriver and Gettysburg Address. Steps And Stairs has gone close in both starts this season but is still creeping up the weights, though he has the beating of Voie Dans Voie on Haydock running.
Rhaegar (IRE) 11-4 (11-6) Chased leaders, every chance 4 out, pushed along and weakened before next, 5th of 8, 32l behind Diplomate Sivola (11-0) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Louse Talk (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Prominent until weakened quickly and pulled up before 5 out, at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Voie Dans Voie (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division when stumbled on landing and fell 7th, at Warwick 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Holdbacktheriver (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway after 13th, weakened 5 out, 5th of 11, dist behind Steely Addition (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Gettysburg Address (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Chased winner until 4th, not fluent 9th or 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, dist behind Eureu Du Boulay (10-9) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Steps And Stairs (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Always prominent, led narrowly after 3 out, ridden after next, headed narrowly last, kept on and every chance flat, held near finish, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Absolutely Dylan (11-0) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Irish Octave (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Held up behind, driven and headway into modest 4th when fell 3 out, at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
