soon well behind, mistake and struggling 10th, tailed off when mistake next, pulled up after 4 out
never fluent, last pair, not fluent 2nd and next, left in 5th place and hampered 4th, went modest 3rd 2 out
led until 7th, chased winner until 12th, chased leaders, went badly left next, weakened 4 out
jumped left, tracked leaders, left in 3rd place 4th, jumped left 5th and next, went 2nd 12th, went left again 4 out, ridden edging right and one pace before next, kept on run-in, not pace to threaten
jumped well, raced keenly, tracked leader, led 7th, went left 13th, clear 3 out, ridden before next, stayed on strongly, driven out
in touch, in 5th, left in 4th place 4th, fell 8th
held up, in last pair, pushed along in 5th after 10th, went 3rd and not fluent 4 out, soon driven along, weakened and lost modest 3rd 2 out
tracking leading pair when fell 4th
Play The Ace has won twice over fences though hasn’t progressed as expected since winning at Stratford in August. ALTESSE DE GUYE made a promising chasing bow at Uttoxeter earlier in the month when well ahead of Behind The Wire and she gets the vote to come out best today with improvement expected. Precious Ground ran well for third at Towcester and is another to consider while winning hurdlers In On The Act and Followmybuttons are both worth a second glance taking on fences for the first time today.
In On The Act 8-1 (11-7) In touch, pushed along before 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 8, 12 1/4l behind Super Sam (10-13) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Mango Cap (FR) 10-1 (11-11) Soon chased leaders, pushed along and weakened from 4 out, 9th of 11, dist behind Hartforth (11-7) at Ayr 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Play The Ace (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 8th until 9th, led 11th, not fluent 12th, jumped right and not fluent 4 out, mistake and headed 3 out, no impression when left 3rd last, 3rd of 8, 14 1/2l behind Templehills (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Altesse De Guye (FR) 11-2 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway after 12th, went 2nd last, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Return Flight (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Behind The Wire (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Prominent, bumped 11th, not fluent next, soon pushed along, weakened after 4 out, 7th of 9, 35 1/2l behind Return Flight (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Followmybuttons (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Mid-division, lost place 5th, behind from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Precious Ground 14-1 (10-3) In rear, blundered badly 8th, stayed on approaching last, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 14, 7 1/4l behind Goohar (11-4) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Prince Mahler (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Chased leaders on inside, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 13, 27 1/4l behind Abbeygrey (11-8) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
