held up towards rear, headway after 4 out to chase leaders, went 3rd and one pace after 2 out
tracked leaders, led 2 out, soon clear, readily
led, headed 2 out, kept on and no chance with winner
tracked leader, ridden and weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, in 5th before last, one pace
tracked leaders in 3rd, soon dropped into mid-division in 4th, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, weakened after 4 out
always towards rear, tailed off before 3 out
in rear, pushed along before 5 out, weakened from next
Kylemore Lough and Nightline won maiden hurdles on their latest starts while Aniknam landed a novices' event at Hexham. All three carry a penalty in this which could hand the advantage to BELLS 'N' BANJOS. A mistake at the last ended the latter's challenge at Stratford on his latest outing but he can go one better here with a clear round. Point-to-point winner Adam Du Breteau makes his debut under Rules so Allbarnone and Paddy Mulligan are preferred with the latter dropping back in trip.
Aniknam (FR) 15-8 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd before 4 out, headway before last to chase leader, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Hexham 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating It's High Time (11-5) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Kylemore Lough 33-1 (11-0) Prominent, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden when not fluent 2 out, no impression on winner and 9 lengths down when left well clear last, won at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Royal Redemption (11-0) by 24l, 17 ran.
Nightline 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, led before next, driven flat, just held on, won at Southwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec beating Veripek (11-0) by nk, 8 ran.
Adam du Breteau (FR) 6-4 (11-9) Ld, jnd aftr 5th, hdd 7th, disp again 5out until ld 4out, faster jump when gng best 2out, sow, easily, won at Dromahane 3m ire ptp sft in Mar beating Na Trachtalai Abu (11-9) by 6l, 8 ran.
Allbarnone 11-1 (10-12) In touch, lost place after 5th, stayed on from 2 out, no impression on leaders, 4th of 8, 9l behind Vesperal Dream (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Bells 'n' Banjos (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Led, wandered approaching 3rd, ridden before 2 out (usual 3 out), kept on same pace, no chance with winner before last, 2nd of 11, 15l behind Foxtail Hill (10-9) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.
Paddy Mulligan (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) Hit first, close up in 4th, ridden 9th, went 3rd 2 out, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 4, 11l behind Candide (10-5) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
The Peaky Blinder 25-1 (10-13) Led 6f, in touch, lost place 4f out, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 7, 44l behind Junius Brutus (11-4) at Catterick 2m NH flat (6) gs in Dec.
Timber King 40-1 (10-8) Always towards rear, 9th of 12, 37l behind Billfromthebar (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (6) gd in May '13.
Giveimachance (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden and struggling after 6th, soon behind, pulled up after, in a race won by Kylemore Lough (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec, 17 ran.
North Country Boy 7-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, ridden before 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Robinsson (11-0) at Southwell 2m NH flat (6) gs in Dec.
