held up in touch, headway on bit approaching 2 out, soon upside with leader, weakened badly between last 2, finished tired
behind when stumbled badly 5th, pulled up soon after
in touch, headway on wide outside to track leaders approaching 2 out, went 2nd soon after last, stayed on flat, no impression
raced wide, led, ridden and headed 2 out, immediately outpaced
tracked leading pair, led 2 out, headed well before last, soon one pace
held up, steady headway 3 out, switched left to inside and led well before last, quickened clear, soon in command, kept on strongly
chased leaders until ridden and weakened approaching 4 out
tracked leader, ridden 9th, immediately outpaced after 2 out
not fluent, dropped to rear 7th, losing touch when mistake 3 out, hit next
Black Jack Ketchum has to be the choice in the Cleeve Hurdle, with Inglis Drever rated as his biggest danger. Yes or no: Black Ketchum is the number one staying hurdler in the country? We reckon he is and we think that he will extend his unbeaten record to nine by winning the Cleeve Hurdle. The 2005 Stayers' Hurdle winner, Inglis Drever, returned for the season with a scrambling win from Irish Wolf in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and, given that he will probably improve on that effort, rates as the biggest danger to the selection. Irish Wolf reopposes on the same terms today and might claim some prize-money, while Flight Leader rates as a very useful novice and Blazing Bailey is theoretically weighted to get closer to Black Jack Ketchum based on this season's 'Relkeel' form. That said, Black Jack Ketchum looked to have plenty in the locker that day and can prove the point by beating him and his other opponents today.
Black Jack Ketchum (IRE) 4-11fav (11-7) Always travelling, went 2nd at the 6th, good jump to lead last, easily, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec beating Blazing Bailey (11-1) by 3l, 5 ran.
Fire Dragon (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Prominent, ridden after 11th, soon weakened, virtually pulled up approaching last, last of 9, well behind Mighty Man (11-7) at Ascot 3m 1f hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec.
Inglis Drever 15-8fav (11-8) Raced on inside, held up in 4th until closed up from 9th, challenging 3 out, led 2 out, driven and edged right flat, held on near finish, won at Newbury 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Nov beating Irish Wolf (11-0) by a nk, 5 ran.
Redemption 40-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, hit 1st and 8th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 9, 43l behind Mighty Man (11-7) at Ascot 3m 1f hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec.
Flight Leader (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 3 out, ridden 4 lengths clear at last, tired flat, held on, all out near finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) hvy beating Temoin (11-4) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Blazing Bailey 10-1 (11-7) In touch, mistake 10th, soon driven along, kept on from 2 out, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Mighty Man (11-7) at Ascot 3m 1f hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec.
Irish Wolf (FR) 14-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden after 11th, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 9, 34l behind Mighty Man (11-7) at Ascot 3m 1f hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec.
Lough Derg (FR) 50-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, reminders 7th, ridden and lost place 10th, rallied after 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Mighty Man (11-7) at Ascot 3m 1f hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec.
Sleeping Night (FR) 8-1 (11-7) In touch, hit 2nd, in touch when fell 4 out in race won by Leading Man (10-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
