led 1st, headed before 9th, lost place before 3 out, soon behind
held up towards rear, headway before 7th, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway before 5th, no impression before 2 out, went 3rd last
held up in mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway 9th, went 2nd before jumping left 2 out, led approaching last, hit hurdle and headed, held flat
held up in rear, behind 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, ridden 5th, headway before 3 out, no impression before 2 out
chased leaders, lost place 5th, behind 7th, pulled up after 3 out
held up in touch, hanging badly left from 6th, lost place before next and hanging to outside of course, ran out 3 out
led until 1st, prominent, ridden before 2 out, soon beaten, lost 3rd last
mid-division, mistake 8th, effort 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
Rootless Tree won a novice hurdle at Leicester a month ago but the odds-on favourite ran no sort of race and the handicapper has taken no chances with a mark of 123. Maypole Class was raised 7lb for beating exposed handicappers at Lingfield and this will require more. NIFTY AT FIFTY has flattered to deceive but Bryan Carver gave him a superb ride to get off the mark over course and distance last month and could cajole him into following up off 7lb higher. Horse Force One makes his handicap debut having returned from a lay-off with a third at Exeter in October but Sir Ivan is a law unto himself and Silver Kayf was among the first beaten last time at Newbury.
Sir Ivan 28-1 (11-12) In touch, lost place after 4 out, behind when pulled up after 2 out, at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Silver Kayf 20-1 (10-5) Held up and always behind, tailed off, 13th of 16, dist behind The Cashel Man (10-6) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Rootless Tree (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 2 out, stayed on flat, won at Leicester 2m (3) hvy in Dec beating Shanacoole Prince (11-4) by 1l, 11 ran.
Vodka All The Way (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Held up tracking leaders in 4th, lost place 10th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind St Erney (11-10) at Exeter 3m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Maypole Class (IRE) 11-8fav (11-11) Mid-division, headway 3 out, challenged 2 out, led, went left and awkward last, ridden out, won at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Dec beating The Game Is A Foot (11-4) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
Horse Force One (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, held up in touch, 3rd from home bend, one pace when not fluent last, 3rd of 14, 13l behind Hang In There (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Merry Milan (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Led until after 2nd, prominent, ridden after 4 out, weakened before next, 6th of 12, 23 3/4l behind Bhutan (11-9) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Alcock And Brown (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon struggling and pulled up next, at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Nifty At Fifty (IRE) 7-2jfav (11-7) Mid-division, hung badly left throughout, headway 6th, soon chasing leaders, led 4 out, challenged from 2 out, stayed on well, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Dec beating Roccowithlove (11-3) by 2 1/4l, 14 ran.
Invincible Cave (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Prominent, lost place 4th, behind 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Mr Muldoon (11-10) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Finula (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd 7th until ridden 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Chirico Vallis (11-11) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
