tracked leaders, headway to lead 3 out, soon clear, ridden before next, very easily
held up in last pair, struggling 4th, lost touch when pulled up before next
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd next, kept on same pace, no chance with easy winner
led, headed 3 out, soon outpaced, no chance with winner when lost 2nd next, just held on for 3rd
held up in last pair, mistake 4th, tracked leaders next, not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced, never on terms
pressed leader, driven and lost place before 3 out, soon outpaced, ridden after next, kept on under pressure flat, just failed for 3rd
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 5th, tailed off 4 out
NonRunner
Robben carries 7lb extra for opening his account over hurdles at Sedgefield. Bring Back Charlie is back over his winning trip after a poor effort at Ludlow while Pret A Thou won over fences earlier this year but hasn’t scored over hurdles since 2013. Straits Of Messina won at Uttoxeter in 2014 but hasn’t raced since and Raise A Spark never threatened when second at Hereford. But TOBACCO ROAD was beaten only a couple of lengths at Towcester on his handicap bow and he looks the one to side with in this despite a rise in the weights.
Raise A Spark 12-1 (11-12) Held up, mid-division, headway before 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 16, 11l behind Super Sam (11-12) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Vayland 66-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, never on terms, 10th of 14, 17 3/4l behind Rocklander (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Straits Of Messina (IRE) 6-4fav (11-11) Tracked leader, led before 3 out, clear next, stayed on, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) gs in Oct beating Seas Of Green (11-0) by 9l, 11 ran.
Pret A Thou (FR) 20-1 (10-8) Prominent, ridden and weakened before 3 out, soon pulled up, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Bring Back Charlie 7-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, struggling after 4 out, 8th and well beaten next, 8th of 14, 30 1/4l behind Midnight Target (11-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Robben 25-1 (10-8) Made all, ridden 2 out, clear next, readily, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Dec beating Hi Bob (10-0) by 10l, 12 ran.
Blue Top 7-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, chase clear leader 8f out, joined clear leader over 4f out, led over 2f out, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on, won at Bath 1m 5f hcp (6) gd in Jul beating Ballyfarsoon (9-1) by 4l, 12 ran.
Tobacco Road (IRE) 3-1jfav (10-9) Tracked leader, led before 2 out, headed 2 out, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Peruvien Bleu (11-6) at Towcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
