made all, clear 2nd, reduced lead 6th, joined 4 out, edged left approaching next, ridden 2 out, stayed on gamely
tracked winner until 11th, dropped to 4th next, weakened 3 out, eased from next, pulled up approaching last
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 2 out, stayed on one pace
early reminders, in touch, headway to track leaders 8th, joined winner 4 out, short of room approaching next, ridden and kept on same pace
in rear, pulled up 11th
close up, dropped to rear 8th, pulled up 11th
NonRunner
A dual novice winner over hurdles, Gentle Jolie makes her chasing bow on her first start since May. Poldark Cross and Graystown failed to complete last time while both Instant Replay and Road Warrior have failed to threaten since winning at the track earlier in the year. Bandit D'Ainay will be sharper for a recent comeback but the same comment applies to OSCARS LEADER, who faded in the closing stages at Warwick on his first start over fences but has won off a similar mark over hurdles here in the past.
Road Warrior 14-1 (11-12) Led, jumped well throughout, headed last, no extra flat, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 9, 10 1/4l behind Sounds Russian (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Oscars Leader (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, tracked leader after 2nd, led before 6th, joined 3 out, ridden and headed before next, no extra in 3rd soon after, 3rd of 11, 15l behind Brave Seasca (11-13) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Poldark Cross (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 10th, headway when blundered next, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last, at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Gentle Jolie 5-2 (11-7) Prominent, slightly outpaced and reminder after 5th, closed 3 out, given another reminder, led before last, stayed on well, won at Cartmel 2m 1f (4) gd in May beating Sinndarella (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Bandit D'Ainay (FR) 22-1 (10-10) Chased leader, ridden and outpaced 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 9, 26 1/4l behind Sounds Russian (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Graystown (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Prominent, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, not fluent 3 out, pulled up, at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Instant Replay (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Led early, tracked leader 3rd, led 3 out, mistake and headed after 2 out, soon ridden, bad mistake last, no extra, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Northern Bound (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
