prominent, joined leader 4th, led before 3 out, drew clear next, easily
tracked leaders, mistakes 4 out and 3 out, soon beaten, tailed off, remote 3rd
led, slow 4th, soon joined, not fluent 4 out, headed before next, stayed on same pace
Knockmaole Boy isn’t badly treated on the pick of his hurdles form and will have learned plenty from his run at Newbury. Eureu Du Boulay won at Catterick and Sedgefield in December but seems suited by soft going having been beaten twice lately on quicker ground. MILITARIAN has been tackling longer distances but remains in fine form and could run the finish out of his two rivals if James Martin makes plenty of use of his mount.
Militarian 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway 9th, chased clear leader next until not fluent 3 out, stayed on same pace last, 4th of 10, 4 1/4l behind Treackle Tart (11-7) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Knockmaole Boy (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Took keen hold in last, not fluent 2nd, left 3rd 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 4, 26 1/2l behind The Russian Doyen (11-8) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Eureu Du Boulay (FR) 7-4fav (10-1) Chased winner, pecked 8th, lost place 2 out (usual 4 out), soon outpaced, ridden and weakened on extended run-in, last of 4, 28 1/2l behind Dimple (10-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
