always towards rear, weakened before 3 out
tracked leaders, weakened before 3 out
prominent, lost 2nd place 2 out, one pace in 3rd when mistake last
mid-division, headway before 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, soon chased winner, kept on and no impression
towards rear, reminders after 3rd, weakened from 4 out
made all, clear before last, kept on well
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened before 3 out
in rear, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
Nonrunner
Dual bumper winner Lemony Bay had become disappointing before a much better effort on his return to action here in October and, with his yard on a high, he looks certain to get involved. The four-year-old Mad Jack Mytton looked as though a longer trip would be required when beaten a long way into third on his hurdling debut at Bangor, a remark that also applies to winning point-to-pointer Some Buckle. Brigadoon looks the type to make a nice hurdler but, more in hope than anticipation, RANSOM NOTE gets the nod. A Group 1 performer on the Flat for the Hills family, he disappointed in his two runs under National Hunt Rules a couple of years ago but he's still young enough to make his mark and could well turn out to be on a completely different level to these.
Ask A Bank (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up behind, ridden to to chase clear leaders 6f out, never on terms, weakened over 3f out, tailed off, 5th of 11, well behind Weststreet (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) hvy in Nov.
Brigadoon 16-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, never on terms, 8th of 10, 17l behind Latenightrequest (8-10) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct (flat).
Hope For Glory 150-1 (10-11) In rear, hampered 4th, never a factor, 13th of 17, well behind The Grey Taylor (11-0) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Lemony Bay 5-1 (10-12) In touch in 5th, headway tracking leading pair before 2 out, driven along before last, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Kalane (10-5) at Southwell 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Mad Jack Mytton (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden and headway to chase leaders 3 out, kept on to go a never dangerous 3rd flat, 3rd of 8, 24l behind Zaidiyn (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Norman Bates 33-1 (10-12) Chased leaders until 3 out, 9th of 12, 21l behind Fingers Crossed (10-12) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Some Buckle (IRE) 66-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, 2nd halfway, ridden in 6th 4f out, soon no extra, 9th of 12, 31l behind Shaneshill (12-0) at Punchestown 2m G1 NH flat (1) in Apr.
Valentine's Gift 50-1 (10-7) Led, clear until wandered approaching 5th, headed before next, soon lost place, behind when fell 3 out, in a race won by Jacks Last Hope (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 4f 4yo nov stks (4) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Bond's Gift 25-1 (8-13) Slow into stride in rear, reminders 4f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 12, 40l behind Arabian Flight (8-7) at Wolverhampton 7f flls hcp (0-70) (3yo+) (5) in Sep (flat).
Ransom Note 5-2 (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway on outer 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Foster's Road (10-8) at Lingfield 2m NH flat (4) std in Jan '13.
