tracked leading pair, effort to challenge 3 out, ridden after next, led flat, kept on until headed and no extra final 75 yards
tracked leader, outpaced approaching 3 out, soon lost place, beaten when mistake next
mid-division, driven after 3 out, lost place next, weakened last
held up in 4th, headway 3 out, tracked leading pair next, ridden after last, stayed on to lead final 75 yards
led, jumped left, hard pressed 3 out, ridden after next, headed flat, no impression in 3rd final 100 yards
raced keenly, held up in rear, close up 3 out, one pace next, ridden and weakened before last
mistake 1st, raced keenly, held up behind, in touch 3 out, ridden to chase leaders after next, kept on same pace, no impression with front trio
mid-division, tracked leaders 3 out, outpaced next, no impression before last
McCabe Creek's second at Ludlow was a step up on previous form but the winner disappointed next time. Coup De Grace won on the Polytrack at the start of the month but has proved difficult to place over timber, as has Civil War who won twice on the Flat last year. Rayak was well behind Coup De Grace and Verano at Cheltenham in November and was still beaten 18 lengths when second at Market Rasen last time. The four-year-old RATHEALY (NAP) was always travelling like a winner when making all at Plumpton on Monday. He jumped much better than he had at Taunton previously and looks capable of defying a penalty.
Coup De Grace (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Chased leader, led 5th, driven before last, hit last, no extra and headed close home, 2nd of 9, nk behind As De Mee (11-11) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Verano (GER) 12-1 (11-7) Prominent, pushed along before 4th, lost place after next, 13th of 19, well behind Chesterfield (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Civil War (IRE) 15-8 (11-3) In touch, smooth headway before 3 out, 2nd after 3 out, 2nd and every chance 2 out, driven and held before the last, readily outpaced run-in, 2nd of 14, 10l behind All Yours (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft.
Rayak (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4th, ridden and no impression on winner 2 out, 2nd of 6, 18l behind Favorite Girl (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Jan.
Rathealy (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Jumped left, made all, clear before went left 2 out and last, unchallenged, won at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy beating Sirop De Menthe (10-13) by 6l, 7 ran.
Capilla (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway on outside 3rd, led 5th, headed before next, weakened well before 2 out, 9th of 15, well behind Winning Spark (11-9) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
McCabe Creek (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, soon every chance, challenged next, kept on and always held from last, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Baths Well (11-5) at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Lifetime (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Chased leading pair until pushed along 4th, weakened approaching next, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Catchin Time (11-11) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy.
Notnowsam 9-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, ridden before 2 out, no impression, 6th of 13, 30l behind Buckwheat (11-5) at Catterick 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
