tracked leader, led and not fluent 4 out, clear before 2 out, very easily
led until 4 out, lost 2nd and outpaced after next, soon ridden, rallied into modest 3rd run-in
raced keenly tracking leaders, pushed along in 3rd after 3 out, ridden and beaten before mistake next, weakened run-in
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
held up in 6th, reminders and beaten after 4 out, tailed off
raced keenly, held up towards rear, hit 4th, jumped slowly 5th, pulled up before next
chased leaders, lost place 4th, pushed along and outpaced after next, no chance after
always in rear, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before last
last pair, never on terms, plugged on, tailed off
NOT NEVER will be a short price here despite having to concede plenty of weight. His overall form is on a different level having won a Class 3 hurdle in January and scored over fences in June so should be too good for these. Golden Poet has had a couple of runs on this track for new connections since arriving from Ireland but has shown nothing while Throckley has reverted to type since gaining a surprise victory in a Worcester maiden in August. West Drive made a winning start over hurdles at Fontwell in August last year though has gone backwards but the four-year-old Feu Ardent is a possible improver on his hurdling bow.
Not Never 9-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, beaten 3 out, 6th of 9, 28 1/2l behind Dan McGrue (11-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Golden Poet (IRE) 66-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, behind 4 out, 12th of 16, dist behind Dorking Boy (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Throckley 6-1 (11-10) Unseated rider 1st, at Hereford 2m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
West Drive (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Held up, jumped left 1st, beaten 4 out, pulled up before next, at Plumpton 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Feu Ardent (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, outpaced 4f out, never able to challenge, 4th of 6, 15 3/4l behind Vinnie's Getaway (11-2) at Stratford 2m (5) gd in Jul.
Ipflibbydibby (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Behind, pushed along and outpaced over 3f out, some late headway, 5th of 7, 19 1/2l behind King Vince (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f (6) gf in Aug.
Johni Boxit 66-1 (9-2) Raced wide close up, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, eased final furlong, 10th of 13, 11 1/2l behind Gerry The Glover (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Ragtag Rascal (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Always in rear, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Sleep Easy (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f (5) gd in Nov.
Doodle Dandy (IRE) 100-1 (10-8) Jumped left at times, held up, always behind, last of 15, dist behind Tactical Manoeuvre (10-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
