prominent, led after 4th, headed after 8th, lost place before 3 out
mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, no impression
slowly away, always behind, tailed off after 8th
slowly away, behind, mistake 3rd, tailed off when mistake 8th, awkward 3 out, soon pulled up
led after 1st, headed after 4th, not fluent 6th, lost place after 7th, tailed off after next
tracked leaders, lost place after 7th, well beaten after next, tailed off before 3 out, soon pulled up
towards rear, closed 5th, went close 3rd when fell 2 out
tracked leaders, challenged 7th, led after 8th, headed before mistake last, no extra flat, lost 2nd towards finish
prominent, ridden after 8th, lost place before 3 out
prominent, lost place after 8th
towards rear, behind 3rd, pulled up before 8th
in rear, not fluent 2nd, some headway after 7th, never on terms
mid-division, headway after 7th, no impression 3 out, mistake 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway from 5th, challenged 2 out, led before last, clear flat, eased towards finish
chased leaders on inside, lost place before 5th, stayed on from 3 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
very slowly away, always behind
led until after 1st, prominent, led after 8th, headed after 3 out, weakened last
towards rear, struggling 5th, stayed on from after 2 out, never dangerou s
mid-division, mistake 6th, some headway after 8th, lost place 3 out
There are some big fields here today. Flying Verse has won twice over fences this year but his last win over hurdles came back in 2018. BIRD ON THE WIRE’s only victory to date came in this race 12 months ago. He is 7lb higher now but William Maggs was back on board when he finished a close-up third in a better race here in November and blinkers are added today. Rickety Gate arrives on a hat-trick but has gone up another 4lb and Fantomas is now 0-7 over timber but Bradley Roberts has struck up a good understanding with The Wise Traveller and Braganza Bay beat a good yardstick at Hereford in November before flopping at Taunton.
The Composeur (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Led, ridden and headed home turn, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 26 1/4l behind Lily Glitters (11-10) at Ludlow 3m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Bird On The Wire (FR) 6-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, pushed along and switched left before 3 out, unable to challenge from 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Caius Marcius (12-0) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Design Icon 10-1 (11-13) Chased leader until 7th, chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 25 1/4l behind Turnaway (11-2) at Taunton 3m hcp (5) gd in Dec.
Choungaya (FR) 125-1 (12-0) In rear, struggling and reminders before 11th, pulled up before 14th, at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Welsh's Castle (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Led, ridden along and headed before 3 out, soon no extra, weakened gradually, 4th of 8, 14 1/4l behind Harlem Soul (11-10) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Flying Verse 11-1 (11-7) Pressed leader, led narrowly 13th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon lost 2nd, weakened badly run-in, 5th of 8, 33l behind Some Detail (11-9) at Taunton 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Rickety Gate 4-6fav (10-2) Tracked leader 2nd, disputing 2nd from 8th, 2nd again inside before 3 out, led before the last, kept on strongly run-in, eased towards finish, won at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Cyclop (12-2) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
First Man (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up behind front pair, slow 3rd, briefly pushed after 6th, dropped to last and ridden after 8th, detached after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out, at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Braganza Bay Evensfav (11-8) Mid-division, hindered 1st, briefly pushed along after 5th, short of room after 7th, driven along before next, made no impression, 8th of 12, dist behind Sure Listen (10-3) at Taunton 3m hcp (5) gd in Dec.
Kings Creek (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Prominent, pushed along after 4th, no impression from omitted 2 out, 11th of 12, 16 3/4l behind Okavango Delta (12-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Welsh Reign (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Not fluent on occasions, held up in rear, never on terms, 7th of 11, dist behind Catlin (10-2) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
The Blame Game (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) In rear, ridden 3 out, detached and pulled up before 2 out, at Musselburgh 3m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Fantomas (FR) 9-2 (10-13) Prominent, mistake 4th, not fluent and reminder 6th, not fluent 7th, hung right before 2 out, no impression on winner, one pace, 4th of 7, 7 3/4l behind Langley Hundred (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Aazza (IRE) 5-2 (11-6) Mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, not much room on rails home turn, ridden after 3 out, went 3rd final flight, stayed on run-in, not trouble winner, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Blue Shark (10-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
The Wise Traveller (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Visibility reduced by fog, disputed lead early, led before 2nd, going okay in lead before 4 out, ridden along and faced challenge from 2 out, headed next, kept on well flat, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Shutupshirley (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Nechako 18-1 (10-11) Rear mid-division, pushed along 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 13, dist behind Edgar Allan Poe (11-3) at Catterick 2m hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Young Moloney (IRE) 22-1 (10-3) Made most until 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 9, 17 3/4l behind Charm Offensive (12-0) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Ali Star Bert 11-1 (10-8) Towards rear, ridden 5th and steadily lost ground, pulled up 13th, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
The Skiffle King (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Mid-division out wide, pushed along from 5th, weakened home turn, 9th of 12, 36 3/4l behind Accidental Legend (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
