raced on inside, chased leader, hit 4th, lost 2nd 11th, went 2nd again 13th until pushed along and awkward 2 out, weakened soon after
tracked leaders, went 2nd 11th until 13th, led 3 out, 1 length ahead last, headed close home
led, reached for 10th, headed 4 out, lost 2nd next, chased leaders, ridden and weakened turning in, mistake 2 out
held up in last pair, jumped slowly 2nd, not fluent 12th, headway chasing leaders home turn, went 2nd 2 out until between last two, no extra in 3rd
always in rear, went badly right and almost unseated rider 6th, tailed off
tracked leaders on inside, went left 9th, went left and bumped 2 out, ridden and went 2nd between last two, 1 length down and went left last, stayed on to lead close home
Crixus's Escape is a risky proposition nowadays and LIGHT FLICKER has never won off a mark this high but the course and distance winner is sure to strip fitter for a run at Cheltenham and Brian Hughes takes over the reins. Onestepatatime won twice over track and trip at the start of the year but Motion In Limine was let down by his jumping at Stratford. Dragonfruit took a big step forward when beating a decent yardstick at Uttoxeter, however, while Fortcanyon won twice over hurdles last season.
Light Flicker (IRE) 66-1 (11-1) In touch with leaders, prominent 12th, ridden and kept on one pace before 2 out, no impression run-in, 7th of 19, 5 1/4l behind Mole Court (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Motion In Limine (IRE) 6-4fav (11-13) Held up, mistake 7th and dropped to rear, blundered 6 out and soon pulled up, at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Dragonfruit 6-1 (12-0) Made all, hampered by loose horse approaching 11th, ridden 2 out, ran on, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) sft in Sep beating Justshortofabubble (10-10) by 5 1/2l, 7 ran.
Crixus's Escape (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 11th, eased after 4 out when still in contention, pulled up quickly before next, at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Apr.
Fortcanyon (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Raced wide, close up, led 3 out, ridden and ran on, won at Perth 3m hcp (5) gs in Apr beating The Longest Day (10-3) by 6l, 9 ran.
Onestepatatime (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division on inside, pushed along and outpaced home turn, late headway for 4th, 4th of 7, 6 3/4l behind Jem In Em (11-10) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
