tracked leaders, weakened after 4 out
held up in rear, headway from 3 out, kept on and no impression
tracked winner, ridden and weakened before last
held up mid-division, ridden before 2 out, soon chased winner, kept on and no impression
mid-division, pushed along and weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
made all, clear until 4 out, drew clear before last, kept on strongly
towards rear, headway after 4 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
held up rear division, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
Irish raider Strongpoint, who has won between the flags and over fences, gained his only success over hurdles on this track in 2009 but over a longer trip and from 20lb lower. Mojolika won twice at Carlisle in the spring and has generally competed well subsequently from his higher mark. Ueueteotl needs good ground to show his best as it was when he was a comfortable winner over Merchant Of Dubai here last month. The runner-up is 8lb to the good and should get much closer. TANTAMOUNT won a maiden hurdle at Perth in July and ran well on a return visit in September when a couple of mistakes could have cost him the race. He arrives here after a very impressive victory in similar grade at Aintree on Saturday and a 7lb penalty should prove no problem as he's likely to go up much more than that. Big Water ran so poorly when strongly fancied at Ayr that he's best watched at present.
Ueueteotl (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, ridden run-in, kept on well, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Nov beating Merchant Of Dubai (11-7) by 8l, 9 ran.
Scots Gaelic (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Prominent, led 6th, headed before next, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 13, 22l behind Cyrien Star (10-2) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Divers (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Always in rear, jumped slowly throughout, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Silver Roque (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Nov, 8 ran.
Big Water (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Tracked leaders in 4th, mistake 5 out, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 9, 45l behind Trucking Along (11-6) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Nov.
Nine Stories (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, ridden and struggling 7th, headway 2 out, mistake last, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 10, 12l behind Belle De Fontenay (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f sell (5) gs.
Strongpoint (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Disputed lead, led from 3rd, ridden entering straight, headed before last, weakened run-in, 10th of 24, 9l behind Followmeuptocarlow (11-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-116 in Nov.
Mojolika 8-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, ridden before last, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 6l behind Zaplamation (10-4) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Merchant Of Dubai 15-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, went 3rd before last, chased winner run-in, no impression, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Ueueteotl (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
Tantamount 9-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, not alwyas fluent, hampered 8th, soon made progress, challenged 3 out, led before next, ran on well to draw clear flat, won at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) sft beating Dundee (11-2) by 9l, 9 ran.
