tracked leaders, weakened before 5 out
held up mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 7th, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, headway before 3 out, chased clear pair before 2 out, no impression
held up towards rear, weakened before 5 out
always towards rear
tracked leaders, lost place after 6th, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, led 5th, headed 7th, led after 3 out, soon headed, ridden to lead last, kept on, driven out
close up, led 8th, headed after 3 out, soon regained lead, ridden before 2 out, headed last, kept on and held towards finish
led, headed 5th, led again 7th, headed 8th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, lost place after 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 5 out
Only a nose separated The Happy Warrior and Superciliary at Taunton a week ago when the former came out best in a battle for the line. It's too close to call between those two, so a chance is taken on CLEVE COTTAGE coming good. The latter is dropping down in class and is back over a more suitable shorter trip today. Bold Tara finished runner-up to Iconic Rose over these hurdles last month but this is tougher while Peqeno Diablo won a lower grade handicap at Fontwell last time and is upped 5lb for this.
Cleve Cottage 11-2 (10-13) Tracked leader until 2nd, stayed handy, ridden after 7th, lost place when not fluent next, well beaten when mistake 3 out, 7th of 8, 19l behind Fix It Right (11-5) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
Gilanto (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Led until after 1st, chased winner until before 4th, chased leaders, weakened before 6th, 6th of 10, 32l behind Meadowcroft Boy (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Superciliary 20-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, good headway under pressure before 2 out, 6 lengths 2nd 2 out, closed before last, ridden to lead final 110 yards, headed post, 2nd of 14, ns behind The Happy Warrior (9-9) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec.
Taradrewe 9-2fav (11-0) Mid-division, badly hampered and lost place 2nd, not fluent next, headway 7th, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 15, 29l behind Lovey Dovey (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (0-105) (4) gf in Jul.
Snowed In (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, not fluent, weakened 2 out, 6th of 11, 22l behind Circus Star (10-6) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Agesilas (FR) 66-1 (10-9) Held up mid-division, weakened after 4 out, 8th of 13, 40l behind Dream Flyer (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Bold Tara 13-2 (9-11) Always prominent, joined winner 9th, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on, not fluent last, well held flat, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Iconic Rose (11-5) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Dec.
The Happy Warrior 10-1 (9-9) Made most, 6 lengths ahead before 2 out, reduced lead before last, narrowly headed final 100 yards, rallied amely under pressure to regain lead post, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec beating Superciliary (10-9) by ns, 14 ran.
Peqeno Diablo (IRE) 9-4fav (10-3) Disputed lead, advantage 4th, clear before 6th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on well flat, won at Fontwell 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Dec beating Miss Mayfair (11-5) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Song of Pride (GER) 33-1 (9-9) Behind, some headway into, mid-division 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 12, well behind Iconic Rose (11-5) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Dec.
