with leader, led 4th, headed when mistake 3 out, rallied after next, kept on same pace
chased leaders, mistake 5th, led 3 out, hard driven approaching last, ran on well
mid-division, headway 4th, chased leaders next, effort 3 out, never on terms
chased leaders, lost place 3rd, soon towards rear, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up after next
mid-division, weakened after 5th, behind when pulled up after 3 out
held up in touch, headway 4th, chased leaders next, kept on well approaching last, no chance with winner
held up in rear, struggling after 3rd, headway after 3 out, never dangerous
led until 4th, weakened before 3 out
prominent, weakened before 4 out
Most of these have been struggling to find their best though BIGMARTRE (NAP) can be excused his recent failure in a Grade 2 hurdle at Haydock. He won a novices' event at the same track before that and Ciaran Gethings takes 5lb off his back now handicapping for the first time. Flashman won at Plumpton the last time he raced over hurdles and has scored on the all-weather since then while Wilberdragon ran well in a Listed handicap at Ascot in between a couple of modest efforts. Needless Shouting was still beaten a long way when second over these obstacles on Boxing Day while Karinga Dancer hasn’t won since 2014 and that was over fences.
Bigmartre (FR) 9-2 (11-8) Tracked winner, outpaced before 3 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 4th of 6, 16l behind Its'afreebee (11-8) at Haydock 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Karinga Dancer 8-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, jumped slowly 6th and 7th, effort after 3 out, ridden and no impression from next, last of 9, dist behind Virgilio (11-6) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Nathans Pride (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Always behind, tailed off 10th, 9th of 11, dist behind Padge (11-6) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Wilberdragon 8-1 (11-3) Chased clear leader, closed before 3 out, ridden and no impression 2 out, well held 4th last, 4th of 7, 16l behind Sternrubin (11-1) at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Exitas (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, weakened before last, 5th of 12, 14 3/4l behind Floresco (10-13) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Maestro Royal 16-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, shaken up in modest 8th 3 out, no impression, 7th of 13, 33 1/4l behind Baoulet Delaroque (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Lightentertainment (IRE) 50-1 (10-8) In rear, blundered 2nd, behind 7th, pulled up before 2 out, at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Needless Shouting (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Prominent, led after 2nd, headed before 2 out, soon lost place, 8th of 12, 18 3/4l behind Floresco (10-13) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Flashman 20-1 (9-2) Led 4f, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 7, 8 3/4l behind Anglophile (9-2) at Lingfield 2m stks (2) pol in Jan.
