mid-division, headway 2nd, not fluent next, ridden after 4th, weakened well before last, tailed off
shared 2nd behind clear leader until fell 2nd
held up towards rear, ridden and struggling after 4th, no chance when mistake last, tailed off
made all, soon clear, not fluent 4th, drew further ahead when not fluent last, unchallenged
held up in rear, headway 3rd, not fluent next, went 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner
shared 2nd behind clear leader, ridden after 4th, weakened approaching last, just held on for 3rd, tailed off
mid-division, badly hampered and dropped to rear 2nd, mistake 4th, plugged on flat, almost took remote 3rd, tailed off
held up, took keen hold, well beaten after 4th, tailed off
Caught By Witness has won a maiden hurdle over 2m4f and the testing ground should make today's drop back in trip less of an inconvenience. It could prove a problem to Baccalaureate though, as he won a seller at Ludlow last month on a fast surface. Stormy Weather has been out of sorts for some time, but this drop down in class may bring some improvement, while Tenor Nivernais has claims on his placed form earlier in the year. However, fellow four-year-old NOWURHURLIN got off the mark over timber in a soft ground novice event at Carlisle last month and Donald McCain's charge gets the vote to follow up now he's got his act together.
Caught By Witness (IRE) 11-4 (11-1) Behind, headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 9, 27l behind E Major (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Scorched Son (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Towards rear, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Barrie Burn (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Baccalaureate (FR) 10-3 (11-5) In rear, headway to track leaders 3rd, led 4 out, headed 2 out, kept on, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 7, 13l behind Wee Giant (10-13) at Leicester 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 17-2 (10-8) Made most until jinked right and headed 3 out, soon lost place, ridden and wekened before next, behind when hampered last, 8th of 12, 32l behind Ubi Ace (11-5) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gs.
Stormy Weather (FR) 200-1 (11-0) In rear, struggling 3 out, never dangerous, tailed off, 6th of 8, 41l behind Grandouet (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl G2 (1) gd.
Nowurhurlin (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led 3 out, joined last, driven and stayed on gamely flat, won at Carlisle 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Guess Again (10-12) by 1l, 13 ran.
Suprise Vendor (IRE) 22-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, joined winner 4th, driven and lost place approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 38l behind Lady Bluesky (11-0) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft.
Rosbay (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, ridden before 2 out, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 19l behind Kayf Commander (10-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
