chased leaders, one pace and no impression from 4 out, lost 3rd 2 out
tracked leader, led after 3rd, went 8 lengths clear 4 out, went left and mistake last, reduced lead after, headed flat, held towards finish
troublesome to post, towards rear, struggling from 5th, well beaten 8th, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, ridden in 5th after 8th, no impression, weakened 4 out
in rear, pecked 7th, well beaten from next
tracked leaders, went 2nd when jumped right 4th, 8 lengths off leader 4 out, closed from last, led flat, stayed on
led until after 3rd, stayed handy, 4th and one pace 4 out, no impression, went 3rd from 2 out
NINE ALTARS (NAP) has won twice over hurdles and gave notice of an imminent victory over fences when just failing to peg back A Little Magic at Catterick, form that looks good enough for this. Greybougg won easily over hurdles here two years ago when he was completing a double but he hasn't taken to fences so far. Winning point-to-pointer Freddies Portrait has shown there are races to be won with him in his two runs over regulation fences, the first of them when narrowly beaten here in December. Turtle Watch looked as though a longer trip was required when runner-up over 2m1f at Kelso though a last-fence blunder didn't aid his cause. Winning point-to-pointer Ryalex did enough over hurdles to suggest he could be well treated for his chasing debut.
Nine Altars (IRE) 5-2fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, driven 3 out, ridden after next, rallied last, stayed on to chase winner flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind A Little Magic (11-5) at Catterick 2m hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Greybougg 16-1 (11-2) Chased leaders to 8th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 5 out, at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Christmas Twenty (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) With leader, pushed along before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 31 1/4l behind Go West Young Man (11-10) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in May.
Turtle Watch 5-2fav (11-4) Towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon headway, went 3rd from last, no impression, 2nd of 10, 12l behind Rosquero (10-8) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Craiganboy (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Behind, kept on from before 2 out, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 31 1/4l behind Fairlee Grey (11-0) at Ayr 2m (4) hvy in Jan.
Freddies Portrait (IRE) 3-1 (10-7) Led, jumped right back straight, headed 5 out, every chance until before last, kept on, 2nd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Master Ruffit (11-6) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Ryalex (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Led, headed 8th, hanging badly right after 4 out, weakened before next, 4th of 7, dist behind Mondlicht (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 6f (4) gd in Nov.
