in touch, headway approaching 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened and pulled up before next
held up in rear, ridden and struggling before 3 out
held up, headway to 4th approaching 3 out, went 3rd approaching next, weakened flat, lost modest 3rd close home
chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, closed and mistake 3 out, no impression when lost 3rd before next, soon weakened
held up in last trio, headway before 5th, ridden and weakened well before next
chased leader until 4th, chased leaders, lost place and behind after next, tailed off
led, clear 4th until approaching 3 out, went right 3 out, ridden and headed before next, stayed on same pace and went right last
held up towards rear, dropped to rear and went right 3rd, stayed on again from 2 out, switched right flat, went 3rd close home
chased leaders, led before 2 out, stayed on well from last, driven out
Ruby Crown was a shade disappointing when only third at Ludlow last month but Jason Maguire takes over the reins today and Kim Bailey's mare can't be ignored. Kahsabelle should be approaching peak fitness after a couple of runs but Swiss Art may need more time and it's a while since Playing With Fire was seen over hurdles. Raifteiri has each-way claims but Speedy Directa appears woefully out of form so the one to beat may be the four-year-old REFUSAL. He made mistakes at Fakenham last time and was never travelling on that tight track but an earlier third at Huntingdon was a decent effort and suggests he isn't badly treated here. Mahfal still has some scope and could also figure.
Ruby Crown 7-2fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway on inside 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, pressed for 2nd last, no impression on winner flat, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Cityar (9-13) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Playing With Fire (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Disputed lead until fell 1st, in a race won by Valley View (10-12) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
Swiss Art (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division on outside, blundered 6th, soon outpaced, weakened 3 out, 10th of 15, 23l behind Drumshambo (11-11) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
Raifteiri (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Off the pace in 5th, no chance when hit 3 out, left modest 4th next, tailed off, 4th of 8, 49l behind Ohio Gold (10-5) at Folkestone 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Kahsabelle (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 12, 40l behind Love of Tara (11-8) at Hereford 2m 4f mares hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Speedy Directa (GER) 33-1 (10-10) Tracked leader, led 2nd, headed approaching 6th, not fluent and lost place next, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Elegant Olive (9-10) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Refusal 14-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, blundered and stumbled on landing and nearly unseated rider 4th, ridden 6th, weakened next, 4th of 8, 39l behind Black Dragon (9-13) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Dec.
Mahfal (FR) 25-1 (10-2) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, stayed on one pace from 2 out, 6th of 15, 11l behind Ginger Grey (11-6) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Mujamead 18-1 (10-2) Mid-division, hit 5th, soon ridden, behind next, tailed off, 13th of 16, well behind Clu Agus Cail (10-11) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Aug.
