towards rear, weakened before 2 out
tracked leader, ridden to challenge 3 out, weakened 2 out
led, ridden before last, kept on and headed close home
soon tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 2 out, no extra from last
in rear, headway 2 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace
towards rear, pecked 3rd, never dangerous
held up mid-division, ridden and headway before last, soon went 2nd, kept on to lead close home
held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, kept on run-in
tracked leaders, pushed along weakened after 4 out
A dual winner over hurdles in Ireland, Alaivan makes his debut for Jonjo O'Neill on his first start since 2011. Lexi's Boy was brought down early in a race at Galway when last seen at the track but had rattled up a hat-trick over timber earlier in 2012. Pas Trop Tard had run well here before having an off-day over a longer trip last time while Skint has been chasing and can race off a much lower mark back over hurdles. ZAPLAMATION proved far too good for Lightening Rod over track and trip three weeks ago and John Quinn's charge is fancied to go in again despite a 5lb rise.
Alaivan (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, 5th 4 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out, weakened entering straight, 5th of 6, 24l behind Hurricane Fly (11-12) at Punchestown 2m hdl G1 (1) gd in May '11.
Lexi's Boy (IRE) 15-2 (10-6) Tracked leaders when brought down 4th, in a race won by Rebel Fitz (11-5) at Galway 2m hcp hdl sft in Aug '12, 20 ran.
Pas Trop Tard (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Led until 2nd, tracked leader, not fluent 7th, weakened after 8th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by More Of That (11-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Nov, 9 ran.
Deepsand (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Pulled hard in mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, weakened last, 6th of 12, 6l behind Moujik Borget (11-1) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Lightening Rod 20-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out to chase leaders, soon every chance, weakened before last, 10th of 13, 10l behind Zaplamation (10-4) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Pertemps Networks 40-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, effort approaching last, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 12l behind Ballybriggan (11-10) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec '12.
Zaplamation (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, stayed on to lead close home, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov beating Zafranagar (9-12) by shd, 13 ran.
Skint 11-4fav (10-6) Raced wide, tracking leaders in 5th, not fluent 5th, pushed along in 4th after 4 out, driven in 4th and struggling after 3 out, weakened and blundered next, last of 6, 21l behind Wiesentraum (10-7) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in Aug.
Maybe I Wont 5-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, chased winner after last until no extra and lost 2nd place near finish, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Milo Man (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
