prominent, led after 2nd, headed after next, not fluent 4th, driven 2 out, stayed on same pace last
tracked leaders, challenged 3rd, soon led, slow 6th, headed 2 out, no extra towards finish
mid-division, headway 7th, not fluent next, weakened before 3 out
mid-division, headway 6th, 5th when mistake 2 out, stayed on one pace
chased leaders, took keen hold, closed 4th, not fluent 6th, mistake last, soon went 2nd, stayed on well, brushed by winner close home, just held
towards rear, not fluent and behind 4th, tailed off 6th, pulled up after
led, headed after 2nd, hit next, lost place before 4th, blundered and unseated rider next
always behind, pulled up before last
held up in rear, headway on outside 7th, weakened before 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4th, led 2 out, edged right towards finish, held on
towards rear, well beaten after 7th, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, headway after 7th, never on terms but not disgraced
held up towards rear, headway 4th, not quicken before 2 out, kept on flat
prominent, lost place from 4th, well beaten before 3 out
mid-division, closed 5th, weakened before 3 out
A potentially-informative novices’ hurdle which sees Dickie Diver make his debut under Rules. He changed hands for £210,000 after winning a maiden point by 20 lengths at the end of 2017. Nicky Henderson has had to be patient with the son of Gold Well but he’s held in high regard and has an entry in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. That race is also the target of LISNAGAR OSCAR, who sets the standard in this on his second to Rockpoint in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last month. He also came up against a smart prospect on his hurdling debut at Ffos Las. Storm Arising has run twice already here and is improving and Truckin Away can be forgiven his mishap at Sandown as he was unsighted but Down The Highway ran a shocker in the same race and will need to bounce back. Breaking Waves showed promise at Plumpton and has had wind surgery since while winning pointer Black Centaur and Dickie River’s stablemate Ganache are also worth a second look.
Down The Highway (IRE) 10-3jfav (11-0) Led, went left 3rd, headed narrowly soon after, ridden and lost place before 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, at Sandown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Truckin Away (IRE) 10-3jfav (11-0) Fell 1st, at Sandown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Black Centaur (IRE) 9-2 (12-2) Mid-div, prog in 6th bef 3out, went 2nd aftr 3out, ld aftr 2out, went clr bef last, kow, won at Tralee 3m mdn gd in May beating Blue Monday (11-11) by 7l, 13 ran.
Breaking Waves (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led narrowly turning in, headed 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression with front pair when not fluent last, 3rd of 13, 16l behind Third Wind (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Dickie Diver (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Ld/disp,2nd aftr 5th, ld 4out & gng best when good jump 2out, went 12l clr uphill bef last, kow, easily, won at Templenacarriga 3m mdn hvy in Dec beating Atlantic Shore (11-11) by 20l, 11 ran.
Ganache (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, pushed along and lost place 11f out, headway over 3f out, went 2nd 1f out, kept on, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 18, 2l behind Emitom (10-11) at Warwick 2m (5) gs in Apr.
Gibb Hill 50-1 (11-5) Soon led, pushed along and headed 6f out, lost 2nd 5f out, weakened rapidly, tailed off, last of 9, dist behind New Age Dawning (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (5) gs in Jan.
Hurricane Arcadio (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Mid-div, 4th 1/2way, prog to 3rd bef 2out, eff & 2l 3rd bef last, ko bt nt mtch ldrs flat, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Dundrum Wood (11-11) at Rathcannon 3m mdn gd in Nov.
Jog On (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Prominent, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 8, 32 1/2l behind Dashel Drasher (11-3) at Wincanton 1m 7f (5) hvy in Feb.
Lisnagar Oscar (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up on inside, headway 3 out, went 2nd when hit last, held by winner flat, stayed on, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Rockpoint (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Our Idic Boy (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Always behind, pushed along over 7f out, soon struggling, tailed off, 11th of 13, dist behind Umbrigado (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m (5) gd in Nov.
Saturdaynightfever 20-1 (10-12) In rear when fell 2nd, at Southwell 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Storm Arising (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, progress on inside after 7th, pushed along and weakened 3 out, 4th of 16, 12 1/2l behind Secret Reprieve (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) hvy in Dec.
Tedspeed (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Hdwy 11; stayed on one pce 2 out; snatched 2nd cl home, 2nd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Fishy Story (11-7) at Milborne St Andrew 3m gs in Feb.
Wee Saxon 4-1 (10-12) Led, hit 3rd, headed 3 out, weakened on extended run before next, 4th of 7, 23l behind Lamanver Pippin (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m 4f (4) hvy in Dec.
Ali The Hunter (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Keen in rear, hit 4th, pushed along and no impression in 5th on long run after 3 out, plugged on into modest 3rd run-in, 3rd of 8, 19l behind Posh Trish (11-8) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gs in Dec.
