held up in touch, headway to chase winner 2 out, no impression when hit last
hampered 3rd, always behind, driven along and struggling before 3 out
not jumped well, mid-division, mistakes 4th, 5th and next and soon well behind
behind, driven along 5th, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, hit last, stayed on strongly, run-in
in touch when fell 3rd
chased leaders, ridden and weakening when mistake 2 out
slowly away and lost about 20 lengths, headway approaching 2 out, went 3rd and mistake last, no extra run-in
chased winner to 5th, stayed prominent until driven and weakened quickly next
mistakes in rear, hit 6th, blundered 8th, soon tailed off
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, chased winner 5th to 2 out, weakened quickly
made all and always going well, clear from 4 out, stayed on strongly
Nonrunner
Inaro fulfilled earlier promise when readily accounting for his rivals in an Exeter novices' hurdle last month and is taken to follow up here in a race where the main dangers look to be Snakebite and Bumper. The last mentioned showed respectable form in National Hunt flat races and looks the pick of Martin Pipe's three representatives ahead of Doc Row, who disappointed last time, and Nice Horse. Haunted House has shown that he handles plenty of cut in the ground in his last two starts and has solid place claims at least, while Optimistic Alfie disappointed at Towcester and may now be best watched. Good Citizen is a consistent performer but probably lacks the class to win this and of more interest may be Mark Pitman's Snakebite, who was useful in bumpers and is entitled to come on for his encouraging hurdling debut at Folkestone. Inaro looked decent at Exeter last time though and he gets the vote to score again.
Inaro (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 2nd, led on bit 3 out, soon clear, easily, won at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Dec beating Whosethatfor (11-0) by 5l, 11 ran.
Bumper (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Held up and keen, headway over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, stayed on to go 2nd well inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Arumun (10-11) at Haydock 2m nhf (H) gd in Mar.
Coltscroft 66-1 (10-12) Veered left 2nd, lost place from 4th, soon well behind, 7th of 15, well behind Alfasonic (10-12) at Towcester 3m nov hdl (4) sft.
Doc Row (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Behind from 4th, 11th of 15, 41l behind Mister Quasimodo (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Good Citizen (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, pushed along approaching 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 15, 7l behind Pirate Flagship (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hcp hdl (3) gs.
Haunted House 7-2 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 6th, every chance when mistake 3 out, weakened last, 3rd of 17, 12l behind Livingonaknifedge (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (F) hvy in Dec.
Nice Horse (FR) 25-1 (11-8) Always behind, tailed off from 3 out, 14th of 15, well behind Pirate Flagship (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hcp hdl (3) gs.
Optimistic Alfie 7-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, weakened 4 out pulled up at the last in race won by Alfasonic (10-12) at Towcester 3m nov hdl (4) sft, 15 ran.
Rioja Rally (IRE) (12-0) fell in race won by Glacial Ridge (12-0) at Killeagh 3m mdn stk gd in Jan '05, 15 ran.
Sheriff Roscoe 25-1 (11-0) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, jumped left last, stayed on, never troubled leaders, 4th of 19, 10l behind Blu Teen (11-0) at Lingfield 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Snakebite (IRE) 3-1fav (11-0) Made most, hit 2nd, ridden and headed and no impression when hit last, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Killaghy Castle (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Royal Stardust 50-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, effort approaching 2 out, soon one pace, 5th of 19, 13l behind Blu Teen (11-0) at Lingfield 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
