held up, no impression from 2 out
made all, driven out
held up, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, ridden and one pace from 2 out
held up, ridden 2 out, never dangerous
held up, mistake 1st, headway approaching 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, ridden approaching last, one pace
Not the strongest of contests and one where HELLFIRE CLUB might just be able to take the measure of Lindy Lou, while Novikov also looks a threat. The last-named has conditions to suit and Tony McCoy's assistance from the plate, and she went close from today's mark at Uttoxeter last time. With the stable maintaining good form throughout recent months there is every chance that this consistent performer can reproduce that effort and go very close. Lindy Lou will be popular among punters after a win at Folkestone a couple of starts ago and another decent effort at Leicester in December. A 1lb rise is hardly a plus, however, and she may come up short again. Trip and ground suit Benfleet Boy, but he has gone up a harsh-looking 2lbs despite a 10-length Taunton defeat and is hard to fancy on that evidence. Just Rob has his first hurdles run since last season's Triumph Hurdle, when he was 39 lengths adrift of Zaynar. This is much easier and he merits respect from a mark of 115. Even so, the vote goes to Hellfire Club. The lightly-raced seven-year-old has not won since doing so on his debut in a Stratford bumper, but he handles cut well and has been progressing nicely this time around. Now sent handicapping for the first time, and with conditions to suit, he looks up to the task from a mark of 115.
Medicinal (IRE) 50-1 (11-9) Pressed leader to 3rd, remained prominent, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Consigliere (11-2) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Benfleet Boy 8-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, chased winner 3 out, rallied to 2nd approaching last, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 13, 10l behind Qozak (11-10) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Valento 12-1 (11-4) Held up last, ridden along briefly and looked to struggle after 5th, stayed on into poor 3rd last, 3rd of 6, well behind You're The Top (11-8) at Ascot 2m nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
King's Revenge 200-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Go Native (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Novikov 13-8fav (11-9) Held up in 4th, chased winner approaching 3 out, hard ridden after 2 out, led flat, headed near finish, 2nd of 8, nk behind Karky Schultz (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Just Rob 150-1 (11-0) Mid-division, nudged along and outpaced after 3 out, tried to close after 2 out, soon no impression and weakened, 12th of 18, 39l behind Zaynar (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Lindy Lou 4-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, hit 4th, not fluent 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, stayed to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Keki Buku (11-5) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Hellfire Club 11-8 (11-4) Tracked leader, effort when mistake 2 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on well, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Kerada (11-4) at Fakenham 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
