made all, pushed along before 3 out, driven flat, just held on
jumped left, prominent, not fluent 5th,ridden and lost 2nd 3 out, weakened last
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway from 6th, went 2nd when not fluent 3 out, stayed on flat and closing, just held
mid-division on inside, took keen hold, headway 6th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, wandered into 1st, lost place 5th, not fluent 6th, well beaten from 7th, pulled up before 3 out
jumped left, mid-division, in touch 7th, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway after 7th, 4th and no impression 3 out, weakened next
held up in rear, headway when hit 7th, weakened 3 out
A very tricky opener featuring three previous winners. Martinhal is preferred to Orbys Legend and Solwara One of those carrying 6lb extra, though his stable isn’t in the best of form at present. CASCOVA couldn’t hold off Good Ball at Newbury but that was a big improvement on his first run over hurdles and the form is working out well. Bumper winner Tamar Bridge is worth noting for future reference and Funky Sensation still had a chance when falling at Wincanton but faces stronger opposition here.
Martinhal (IRE) 10-3 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, chased new leader from 3 out, rallied as leader awkward last, ridden to lead narrowly run-in, kept on gamely, won at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Jan beating Karl Philippe (11-5) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Orbys Legend (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Prominent, led narrowly after 1st, headed before 4th, led after 5th, narrow advantage 3 out, ridden after 2 out, jumped left last, stayed on strongly, won at Exeter 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec beating The Brass Man (10-12) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Solwara One (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd and hit 2 out, soon led and went clear, easily, won at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gs in Jan beating L'Incorrigible (11-9) by 5 1/2l, 16 ran.
Cascova (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Chased leader, jumped right 5th, led flat, soon headed, no impression on winner towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Good Ball (10-6) at Newbury 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Delahaye Gold (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Midfield, niggled along before halfway, soon hard ridden over 4f out, weakened and eased over 3f out, 12th of 13, dist behind Without A Doubt (11-4) at Southwell 2m (5) gs in Dec.
Funky Sensation 17-2 (11-2) Midfield, still in contention when fell 4 out, at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) gs in Jan.
Morfee (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Towards rear, plugged on final 2f, no threat, 5th of 12, 10 1/2l behind Wiseguy (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 1f (5) gs in Jan.
Norley (IRE) 22-1 (11-2) Pulled hard and prominent, tracked winner 3rd, hit 5th, mistake 7th, upsides 3 out, lost 2nd and no extra before next, 4th of 7, 25 3/4l behind Annual Invictus (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f (3) sft in Jan.
Tamar Bridge (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd entering final 3f, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, led near finish, won at Haydock 2m (4) hvy in Dec beating Parramount (11-7) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
True Spice (IRE) 250-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place over 5f out, no chance with leaders final 3f, 7th of 14, 31 1/4l behind Ballybough Mary (10-12) at Hereford 2m (5) sft in Jan.
