held up, ridden after 5 out, one pace from next
held up in touch, blundered 13th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened approaching next
held up, pushed along approaching 8th, ridden approaching 4 out, went poor 4th 2 out, never dangerous
led to 2nd, chased winner, mistake 12th, ridden to challenge 4 out, one pace
tracked leaders, jumped left 5th and 6th, quickly lost place, pulled up before 7th
held up in touch, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 9th, jumped right and weakened from 3 out, pulled up before last
with leader, led from 2nd, kept on well from 2 out
In this handicap chase, the vote goes to Irish Raptor ahead of Hot 'n' Holy and From Dawn To Dusk. Hot 'n' Holy beat Irish Raptor by a neck over course and distance in a thrilling finish last time out but, with the latter being three pounds better off today, he could well get his revenge. Heltornic, who was five lengths away in third on that occasion, is now eight pounds better off with Hot 'n' Holy, and five pounds better in with Irish Raptor, which also gives him a chance today. Reach For The Top is a decent novice but he is making his handicap debut today so we will learn more about him, while From Dawn To Dusk was progressive over hurdles last season, winning three times - from a highest rating of 105 - although he was then beaten from a mark 112 and he starts his chasing career on a rating of 119. That mark, in truth, is probably fair given his very good Cheltenham run when last seen. Hashid probably has something to prove given that he has had just one run over fences, but Inaro's mark is probably fair and he can maybe be forgiven his soft-ground flop at Market Rasen last time. All of which returns us to the selection, Irish Raptor.
Hot 'n' Holy 5-2fav (11-12) Held up, headway 8th, led 2 out, headed last, led again flat, stayed on well, won at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Nov beating Irish Raptor (11-0) by a nk, 8 ran.
Reach For The Top (IRE) 3-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 12th, ridden and headed 2 out, eased when held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 6l behind An Accordion (10-13) at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (4) gd in Nov.
From Dawn To Dusk 5-1 (10-1) Held up, mid-division when mistake 6th, 12 lengths adrift when not fluent 2 out, headway approaching last, ran on strongly flat, nearest finish, 4th of 16, 2l behind Mith Hill (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Heltornic (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) With leader, led 5th, headed 11th, led 12th, headed 3 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Hot 'n' Holy (11-12) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Nov.
Hashid (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Tracked clear leaders from 5th, stayed on from 3 out, jumped left 2 out and last, just held 2nd line, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Bongo Fury (10-11) at Chepstow 2m nov chs (3) sft.
Inaro (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up, effort after 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up 3 out in race won by Iron Man (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 8 ran.
Irish Raptor (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Headway 11th, led 3 out, headed 2 out, led last , headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 8, nk behind Hot 'n' Holy (11-12) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Nov.
