tracked leader, mistake 1st, keen, lost place after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up after next
led until 4 out, led again approaching next, drew clear after 2 out, very easily
tracked leader, driven into 2nd after 3 out, soon outpaced by winner, weakened after last, modest 4th
held up in touch, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on into remote 3rd after last, nearest finish
held up up rear, headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened next, tailed off
held up in rear, hung badly left throughout, sent forward to chase leaders after 2nd, led 4 out, headed before next, outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on into remote 2nd closing stages, no chance with easy winner
towards rear, headway before 4 out, outpaced and lost place before next, rallied 2 out, chased leaders last, faded flat
chased leaders, pushed along after 1st, soon lost place and in rear, beaten 3 out, tailed off
A couple of these bid for hat-tricks with the vote going to BOBBLE EMERALD. He scored over a longer trip here before winning a higher grade hurdle at Cheltenham, despite being hampered by a loose horse in the closing stages, and is preferred to Flowery. The latter won over these hurdles on Boxing Day before scoring at Catterick recently but has been raised 11lb while Travel Lightly was placed at the same Catterick meeting and could also go well. Ninepointsixthree won over track and trip last month when Apterix was pulled up but the latter has subsequently placed at Wetherby.
Bobble Emerald (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Made all, ridden after 2 out, 2 lengths clear last, hard pressed when hampered and carried right by loose horse flat, kept on towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Man Of Plenty (11-1) by 2l, 14 ran.
Ninepointsixthree 9-2 (11-8) Led in and reluctant start, in rear, hampered 1st, headway under pressure before 3 out, ridden to chase winner briefly before next, 3rd and held when blundered last, 4th of 10, 10l behind Nicely Indeed (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Apterix (FR) 4-1 (11-6) Tracked winner, driven after 3 out, lost place next, no chance with clear pair between last 2, 3rd of 6, 6 1/2l behind Zig Zag (11-8) at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Culmination 15-2 (11-8) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, pulled up after next, at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Iolani (GER) 15-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, ridden after next, no chance with front trio between last 2, 4th of 6, 13 1/2l behind Zig Zag (11-8) at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Flowery (IRE) 9-4 (11-3) Held up in rear, good headway on outside into 3rd 3 out, hung badly left from home turn, went 2nd at the last, ridden and ran on run-in to lead near finish, won at Catterick 2m hcp (4) gd in Jan beating Baratineur (10-1) by nk, 7 ran.
Travel Lightly 11-4 (10-11) Chased leaders, hit 3 out and outpaced, rallied on outside and every chance 2 out, ridden soon after, 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Groveman (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) gd in Jan.
Pc Dixon 11-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, not fluent 5 out, soon under pressure, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 7, 36 1/2l behind Its All A Lark (11-12) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
