tracked leaders, led 2 out, headed before last, kept on and always held
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, led before last, kept on strongly
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, in 3rd before last, one pace
led, headed briefly halfway, blundered and headed 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, pushed along before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up
tracked leaders and pulled hard, led briefly halfway, pushed along after 2 out, soon weakened
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up 2 out
with leaders, weakened after 2 out
held up mid-division, effort after 2 out, one pace
always towards rear
Second three times on the all-weather, Say The Word hinted at ability on his hurdling debut at Ludlow. He was clearly out of his depth in a Class 2 at Cheltenham next time and has a much better chance here. Gerolamo Cardano wasn’t beaten far in an Aintree bumper in November but ARTISTIC LANGUAGE looks the one to be on if forgiven a disappointing when favourite at Catterick. Giga White won in Ireland as a two-year-old for Ger Lyons but is best watched making his debut for a new yard. Lord Howard has won twice on the Flat so could be interesting if taking to hurdles.
Artistic Language 2-1fav (10-12) Chased leaders, took keen hold, steadied 2nd, effort after 3 out, driven before 2 out, soon beaten, 5th of 15, 15 3/4l behind Extreme Force (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Gerolamo Cardano 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway over 5f out, stayed on same pace final 3f, 4th of 10, 8l behind Let Me Be (10-12) at Aintree 2m 1f (4) sft in Nov.
Giga White (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden and no impression 3f out, no extra 2f out, 7th of 11, 17 1/2l behind Halimi (9-3) at Naas 1m 2f hcp Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Holy Hymn (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Prominent early, mid-division, headway on outside 3 out, never reached leaders, weakened from next, 8th of 14, 28 1/4l behind Lord Lamington (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
Lord Howard (IRE) 10-3 (9-3) Always behind, 10th of 12, 19 1/2l behind Enmeshing (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Precision Prince (IRE) 13-2 (9-0) In rear, wide and short-lived effort over 2f out, 7th of 10, 10 1/4l behind Orobas (9-10) at Brighton 1m hcp (6) gf in Jul.
Ride The Monkey (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) In touch, lost place over 2f out, last of 12, 22 1/2l behind Power Player (9-5) at Ayr 1m hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Say The Word 40-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, ridden and weakened after 2 out, last of 8, 34 1/2l behind Botox Has (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (2) sft in Dec.
Soldier On 14-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along halfway, soon struggling, 5th of 9, dist behind Manucci (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Dolly Dupree 100-1 (10-5) Always behind, 12th of 14, 37 3/4l behind Lord Lamington (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
