tracked leaders, pushed along before 3 out, ridden to lead last, kept on well
in rear, pushed along before 3 out, headway before 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
led, ridden and headed last, kept on and always held
in touch, pushed along after 4 out, soon outpaced
tracked leader until before 2 out, held in 4th when blundered and unseated rider last
UN GUET APENS has won only one of his nine hurdle starts but 3m would have been too far last month at Haydock. He won a chase here 11 days ago off a 10lb higher mark so has to be the selection. Craig Star won over a longer trip here in the autumn and has only found one too good the last twice so can’t be ignored. Make It Happen runs for the first time since second over track and trip in September and is 2lb higher while Judge Earle appears to have gone backwards since a second at Wetherby in October, though is making his handicap debut.
Craig Star (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-10) Tracked leaders, led before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, headed 2 out, kept on from last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Thorpe (11-10) at Musselburgh 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Judge Earle (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, reminders 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 10, dist behind Silver Concorde (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 3f mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Un Guet Apens (FR) 16-1 (10-13) Raced keenly, chased leaders, close 2nd 3 out, challenged stayed on run-in to lead last strides, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Ramonex (11-5) by nk, 7 ran.
U Name It (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, weakened before 3 out, pulled up, at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Make It Happen (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, headway before omitted last, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Endeavor (10-5) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
