raced wide, led, clear 3rd, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
in rear, ridden 3 out, behind when pulled up last
towards rear, pushed along 3 out, behind when pulled up next
close up, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up next
tracked clear leader until 3 out, pushed along and outpaced next, ridden and headway approaching last, stayed on to lead towards finish (1st hurdle home straight omitted all races)
in touch, ridden and headway 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up next
raced wide in touch, ridden and headway soon after 3 out, chased leader when ducked left then right approaching 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, chased leader 3 out, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed towards finish
Us And Them comes out best at the weights but has failed to complete any of his last five starts and last year’s winner WEEBILL looks the one to beat once again. The latter arrives on the back of a victory at Market Rasen and should have the measure of these. No Rematch and Starsky are clear of the rest on these terms including Razzo Italiano, who won at Southwell back in November, while Red Bond has switched yards for his hurdling debut having won four times on the all-weather.
Us And Them (IRE) 150-1 (11-11) Handy, lost position and dropped to rear before 5th, tailed off and pulled up after next, at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Razzo Italiano (IRE) 22-1 (10-13) Held up, struggling from 3 out, some late headway for fifth, 5th of 10, 20 1/4l behind Cousu Main (12-0) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Starsky (IRE) 66-1 (11-6) In touch in rear, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 6, dist behind Sophosc (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Fou Diligence (IRE) 125-1 (11-1) Raced keenly, led until 2nd, chased leader until after 4 out, soon ridden and weakened rapidly, tailed off, 10th of 14, dist behind Colonial Empire (12-0) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
No Rematch (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Close up, ridden along and weakened quickly from 4 out, 6th of 9, 33l behind Mackelduff (12-0) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Red Bond (IRE) 7-2 (10-4) Prominent, pushed along and led 3f out, headed 2f, no extra final furlong, 3rd of 8, 5 1/2l behind Arab Cinder (9-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Weebill 8-1 (12-0) Prominent, ridden to dispute lead 2 out when not fluent, every chance last, kept on well flat, on top final 100 yards, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (5) gs in Dec beating Emma Lamb (11-3) by 1l, 9 ran.
Moonlight Glory (IRE) 40-1 (11-8) In touch in main group, closed before 7th, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 11, dist behind Socks Off (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
