led 1st, soon headed, prominent, led again 10th, headed before 12th, 3rd and one pace after 3 out, no chance with winner when blundered last
mid-division, jumped slowly 1st, ridden after 9th, went 4th from 14th, one pace 3 out, well held before next
tracked leaders, not fluent and lost place 5th, mistake 11th, well held from 4 out
mid-division, lost place before 2nd, well behind 12th, tailed off 14th, pulled up after
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, headway 7th, ridden after 12th, outpaced 14th, well held next
held up, mistake 8th, headway 9th, weakened 13th, well beaten when jumped left 4 out, pulled up after
mid-division, closed on outside 2nd, struggling before 12th, plugged on from 2 out
led until mistake 1st, soon led again, headed 10th, led before 12th, headed approaching 2 out, no impression on winner
prominent, mistakes 6th and 8th, struggling 14th, mistake 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led before 2 out, soon clear, easily
prominent, not much room and lost place 4th, behind 11th, tailed off approaching next, pulled up after
always behind, well tailed off before 12th, pulled up after
The four-year-old CYCLOP (NAP), a dual winner over hurdles, was having just his third start over fences when falling at the second last at Market Rasen last week. He was well in command at the time and though hit with a 7lb rise he should make amends. Denali Highway looked a smart prospect a couple of years ago and was reappearing after a very long absence when runner-up at Huntingdon. He stays this trip and won't mind the ground so is an obvious contender. Georgie Lad won over hurdles on good ground at Bangor in October but couldn't handle very testing conditions over fences at Exeter. He'll need to do much better than that but Ballyrath ran well for a long way on his debut over fences at Ffos Las and the conditions won't be a problem.
Denali Highway (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, no impression on winner before last, went 2nd and stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Milgen Bay (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Themanfrom Minella (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Towards rear, in from 6th, soon pushed along and weakened, pulled up before 4 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Georgie Lad (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened in 3rd from 2 out, 3rd of 6, 35l behind St Dominick (11-12) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Up For An Oscar (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 7th, 4th and one pace from 3 out, 4th of 10, 20l behind Dartford Warbler (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Strollawaynow (IRE) 10-1 (10-3) Led, reminders after 13th, headed approaching 14th, weakened before 4 out, 6th of 8, 13 1/2l behind The Skyfarmer (10-12) at Newbury 3m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Blown Cover 7-2 (10-7) With leader, soon in touch, weakened before 11th, pulled up before 4 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Incentivise (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Held up, blundered and unseated rider 2nd, at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Paddy The Oscar (IRE) 22-1 (11-7) Prominent, led 4th, headed 11th, rallied 5 out, weakened next, 5th of 11, dist behind Big Society (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Ballyrath (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) With leader, led after 2nd, ridden and headed when mistake 3 out, still close 3rd last, one pace flat, 3rd of 5, 4 3/4l behind Globalisation (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Cyclop (IRE) 9-4fav (11-3) Close up, tracked leader 12th, led next, clear 3 out, looked in no danger when fell 2 out, at Market Rasen 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Ravens Brook (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, jumped slowly and not fluent 1st, given reminders, bumped next, soon lost place, slow 3rd, behind when pulled up before 5th, at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Handsome Buddy (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) In rear, lost touch after 10th, stayed on approaching 2 out, went 3rd last, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 6, 22 1/2l behind Aloomomo (11-10) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
