held up in rear until blundered and fell 3rd
in touch, chased leaders 3 out, still challenging when hit 2 out, chased winner before last until no extra early run-in
tracked leader, led 4th, hit 7th, headed 2 out, weakened quickly
held up in rear, mistake 4th, not fluent and reminder 7th, headway under pressure from 3 out, chased leader soon after 2 out, led well before last, drive and stayed on gamely when strongly pressed run-in
in touch, driven before 3 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened between last 2
chased leaders, driven along and weakened 3 out
in touch, ridden 4 out, headway under pressure on inside approaching last, chased winner early run in and strong challenge near finish, just held
in touch until weakened 3 out
held up in rear, ridden and beaten 4 out
chased leaders until weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, ridden and no impression on leaders when went right and rider lost irons 2 out
held up towards rear, blundered 8th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
led to 4th, chased leader to 3 out, weakened soon after
chased leaders, not fluent 6th, tracked leader 3 out, headed 2 out, headed well before last, weakened early run-in
Black Jack Ketchum can prove his last run all wrong by turning the tables on Blazing Bailey and Inglis Drever, with Mighty Man, Natal and Labelthou holding outside claims. The ante-post market for the Ladbroke World Hurdle took on a much more wide-open look when Black Jack Ketchum finally met with defeat here in the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle in January. There were many inquests afterwards, the debate raging on as to whether it was the heavy ground or just an off-day that saw Jonjo O'Neill's star soundly beaten at the finish. Whatever the reason, he is fancied to put matters right today and see off the challenge of Blazing Bailey who bids to emulate stablemate My Way de Solzen, successful here 12 months ago. Granted, the five-year-old looks progressive, but he will do well to inflict another defeat on the favourite. The 2005 World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever should certainly not be discounted, as he has not had a great deal of racing since, and there was a great deal of encouragement to be gleaned from his run behind Alan King's charge. He is now 8lb better off for the four-lengths that separated them here, and now that Paddy Brennan knows how to ride him, a place beckons at the very least. With the ground turning against Kasbah Bliss, the other main player looks to be Mighty Man who has had a nice break since taking the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December. Placed in this event last year, it is not hard to see Henry Daly's charge taking a hand in the finish either. Labelthou would probably prefer it softer, and although Natal can boast a good win record, he too needs to raise the bar to figure. All in all, one bad race does not make Black Jack Ketchum a flop, and he can make his critics eat their words today.
Black Jack Ketchum (IRE) 4-7fav (11-8) Held up in touch, headway on bit approaching 2 out, soon upsides with leader, weakened badly between last 2, finished tired, 5th of 9, 35l behind Blazing Bailey (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Blazing Bailey 14-1 (11-0) Held up, steady headway 3 out, switched left to inside and led well before last, quickened clear, soon in command, kept on strongly, won at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Inglis Drever (11-8) by 4l, 9 ran.
Fire Dragon (IRE) 100-1 (11-8) Behind when stumbled badly 5th and pulled up at the 6th in race won by Blazing Bailey (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan, 9 ran.
Inglis Drever 9-2 (11-8) In touch, headway on wide outside to track leaders approaching 2 out, went 2nd soon after last, stayed on flat, no impression, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Blazing Bailey (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Kasbah Bliss (FR) 10-1 (11-9) In touch, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed last, no extra, 4th of 16, 3l behind Taranis (10-3) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb.
Lough Derg (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, ridden 9th, outpaced after 2 out, 4th of 9, 34l behind Blazing Bailey (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Mighty Man (FR) 8-11fav (11-7) Held up, hit 4th, headway and mistake 10th, led approaching 2 out, stayed on, ridden out, won at Ascot 3m 1f hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec beating Lough Derg (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Natal (FR) 5-2fav (11-7) Held up, tracked leaders 11th, 2nd 4 out, ridden to lead narrowly after 2 out, gained upper hand before last, ridden and kept on well, won at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Good Spirit (10-10) by 3l, 7 ran.
Overstrand (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, kept on, driven out, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb beating Nation State (10-7) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Over The Creek 7-2 (11-4) Held up behind leaders, close up 16th, soon ridden, no impression, 5th of 7, 20l behind Gungadu (11-10) at Ascot 3m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Strangely Brown (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, dropped to rear when slight mistake 6 out, trailing when pulled up 5 out in race won by Celestial Wave (11-3) at Gowran Park 3m hdl Grd 3 hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Temoin Evensfav (11-4) Held up, driven along and no response 2 out, stayed on approaching last, went 2nd flat and closed as winner tired towards finish, just held, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind Flight Leader (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
Labelthou (FR) 5-4fav (11-1) Made all, shaken up approaching last, stayed on well, won at Haydock 2m 7f hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb beating Afrad (11-4) by 8l, 6 ran.
United (GER) 4-7fav (10-10) Made all, joined and hit 3 out, in command well before next, soon clear, easily, won at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Refinement (11-0) by 14l, 5 ran.
Asian Maze (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Chased leader to 3rd, stayed prominent, until ridden and lost place 5th, 7th of 10, 19l behind Sublimity (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft.
