keen in mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders 3rd, slightly hampered 3 out, challenged last, squeezed through gap on outside and stayed on to lead towards finish
chased leaders, awkward on landing and bumped 3 out, 2nd before 2 out, challenged 2 out, every chance when hampered and stumbled on landing last, switched right and no extra in 3rd run-in
held up towards rear, awkward 3rd, headway on outside when hit 3 out, weakened and blundered next
soon behind, tailed off
raced keenly, chased leaders on inside, led approaching 2 out, joined when hung left on landing last, ridden and continued to hang left, headed and no extra towards finish
pressed leader, jumped slowly 6th, every chance 3 out, soon pushed along, ridden lost 2nd and weakened before next
held up towards rear, closer in mid-division 4th, weakened before 4 out
held up and behind, some headway approaching 4 out, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders on long run before next, soon weakened
soon towards rear, never a factor, tailed off
raced keenly, led but pressed, headed approaching 2 out, chased leaders, weakened run-in
chased leaders, mistake and weakened 4 out, tailed off
Considering his Flat form, it’s been a little disappointing that BIRDS OF PREY (NAP) has so far failed to score over hurdles. However, he hasn’t been beaten far in finishing second three times including twice around here – he’ll be a short-priced favourite in this. Monjeni was a four-times winner on the level but he’s shown little aptitude for hurdling so far. Taaffes Castle changed hands for £22,000 after winning a Boulta point-to-point in December but may need further. Mouseinthehouse just missed out on a place at Ffos Las in December and may have more scope than Little Red Lion with Kauto The King also having place claims.
Birds Of Prey (IRE) 11-8 (11-5) Tracked leaders, 2nd before 3rd until after next, remained handy, 2nd again 2 out, driven and no impression between last 2, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Umndeni (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Jan.
Flinck (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 8th until before 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 32 3/4l behind Ask The Weatherman (10-12) at Exeter 2m 7f (4) hvy in Dec.
Glengar (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, never dangerous, 6th of 12, 16 1/2l behind Lantiern (11-2) at Lingfield 2m (5) pol in Feb.
Joey Steel (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, awkward 2nd, behind from 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, dist behind Arch My Boy (11-5) at Fakenham 2m mdn (4) gd in Mar.
Kauto The King (FR) 40-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led approaching 4th until 4 out, chased leader until soon after next, chased leaders, weakened and hit 2 out, 6th of 9, 25l behind Emitom (11-8) at Newbury 2m 5f (4) gs in Mar.
Little Red Lion (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Led, headed 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 32 3/4l behind Scaramanga (10-8) at Taunton 2m mdn hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Monjeni 25-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, under pressure 3 out, soon beaten, last of 13, dist behind Heatstroke (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (5) gs in Feb.
Mouseinthehouse (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, 2nd before 4th until ridden in 3rd on long run before 2 out, stumbled on landing 2 out, no extra in 4th towards finish, 4th of 10, 18 3/4l behind Monsieur Lecoq (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m mdn (4) hvy in Dec.
Super Snipe 10-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, mistake and hampered 8th, some headway before 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, dist behind Printing Dollars (11-7) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Taaffes Castle (IRE) 4-1 (12-2) Chsd ldrs, 4th 1/2way, went 2l 2nd well bef 3out, clsr 2nd 2out, chall & faster jump to ld last, so flat, won at Boulta 3m mdn sft in Dec beating Morningside (12-2) by 4l, 13 ran.
Vanderbilt (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Prominent, lost place passing omitted 2 out, 11th of 18, 22 1/2l behind Kristjano (10-9) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (5) gd in Feb.
Classy Afair 150-1 (11-0) In rear, well behind after 6th, pulled up before next, at Warwick 2m 5f (4) gs in Jan.
