in touch in mid-division, headway approaching 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, shaken up to lead last, driven out
jumped big 1st, pulled hard in rear, always behind, tailed off
tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden 3 out, 4th and weakening when fell 2 out
held up towards rear, ridden and some headway after 4th, no impression, well beaten 3 out, tailed off
mistake 2nd, always behind, tailed off
held up in mid-division, ridden and outpaced by leaders from out 3 out, tailed off
held up in touch, hit 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten, hampered 2 out, tailed off
tracked leader until ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, ridden and weakened after 4th, tailed off
always in rear, behind from 4th, pulled up after
led until 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up in mid-division, never on terms, well beaten after 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, not fluent 1st, pushed along after 4th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, soon led, edged left before next, ridden and headed last, unable to quicken flat
Everything John Ferguson saddles must be kept on the right side as the rookie trainer has a fantastic strike-rate this season. Asaid was very lightly-raced on the Flat and showed potential so he's certain to be well supported on his hurdling debut. Nicky Henderson is also in unstoppable form so hurdling newcomer One Lucky Lady, twice a winner on the Flat though unproven on soft ground, is another certain to be fancied. CRAFTY ROBERTO had very little experience on the level but was thrown in at the deep end in a Doncaster Grade 2 on his hurdling debut and ran very well for a long way before fading. The opposition here doesn't look anywhere near as strong and he can get off the mark though Life Of Laughter, who won a bumper here in November, is one to keep an eye on in the betting.
Asaid 5-2 (9-3) Held up in rear, headway to track leader over 6f out, led over 4f out, headed 3f out, ridden and kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Vasily (9-3) at Brighton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gf in Oct (flat).
Bodie 50-1 (10-12) Raced keenly in 4th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Royal Opera (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Crafty Roberto 80-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway from 4 out, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 6th of 7, 9l behind Royal Bonsai (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Ishikawa (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, mid-division, not fluent 3rd, hit 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 39l behind Royal Bonsai (10-9) at Haydock 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Life Of Laughter (USA) 10-3fav (11-2) In touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 17, 13l behind Up To Something (10-7) at Wetherby 1m 5f n h flat 3yo (6) gs in Dec.
Mattoral 4-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, ridden and edged left 3f out, lost place 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, no impression, 5th of 9, 4l behind Silken Thoughts (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Aug (flat).
Ministry 10-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, outpaced approaching 3 out, went poor 3rd approaching 2 out, 3rd of 10, 20l behind Dark And Dangerous (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Miss Tique (FR) 15-2 (11-1) Prominent, chased winner 3 out until before next, weakened flat, 5th of 11, 14l behind Schism (10-8) at Leicester 2m juv fll nov hdl (3yo) (4) gs in Dec.
Songsmith 7-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway when hampered 4th, mistake next, ridden approaching 3 out, disputing 2 lengths 3rd when fell last, in a race won by Brilliant Barca (10-9) at Warwick 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd in Dec, 14 ran.
The Cat Creation (HOL) 66-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, jumped left, hampered and rider lost iron briefly 1st, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, left 4th 2 out, well held, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 30l behind Ardlui (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Victorian Number (FR) (8-13) last of 8, 42l behind Kadou (8-13) at Nantes(FR) 1m stk sft in Jun (flat).
Ya Hafed 25-1 (10-12) Hit 1st, chased leading pair until weakened before 3 out, tailed off in 6th when blundered last, 6th of 9, well behind Urbain De Sivola (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Cotton Grass 33-1 (10-8) Held up, jumped left 1st, headway on inside when jumped left 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 11, 23l behind Schism (10-8) at Leicester 2m juv fll nov hdl (3yo) (4) gs in Dec.
Miss Brownes Fancy (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Prominent, not fluent, hampered and lost place 1st, headway approaching 3 out, no impression, 5th of 14, 9l behind Brilliant Barca (10-9) at Warwick 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd in Dec.
One Lucky Lady 10-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 4f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Blazing Field (8-9) at Bath 1m 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Oct (flat).
