soon prominent, led turning in, clear between last 2, pushed out, readily
mid-division, tracked leaders 3 out, ridden between last 2, went 2nd approaching last, kept on, no chance with winner
towards rear, hampered 3 out, not recover, soon lost touch and pulled up
mid-division, pushed along after 2nd, hampered and behind before next, some headway under pressure after 3 out, never going pace to challenge, left modest 4th next
tracked leader, left in lead before 3rd, driven and headed turning in, one pace in 4th when fell 2 out
mid-division, headway 3 out, driven to chase winner before next, readily outpaced between last 2, well held when lost 2nd approaching last
tracked leaders, close up when fell 3 out
held up behind when badly hampered and brought down before 3rd
led until reluctant and headed before 3rd, took no part after, soon pulled up
mid-division, hampered 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off before next
NonRunner
Testing ground is a worry for Never Learn, a dual winner over fences at Fontwell last year and returning from over a year off the track. Lightly Squeeze has won twice in soft on the Flat but has yet to score over hurdles while Nineohtwooneoh has shown little so far over timber and is fitted with a tongue-tie for his reappearance. The Raven's Return is another with something to prove on the likely going but FETHARD FLYER finished much closer in the heavy ground at Plumpton last time when only fading after the last hurdle so Paul Henderson’s charge gets a speculative vote.
Lightly Squeeze 7-4fav (11-3) Jumped left and not that fluent, led until after 3 out, 3rd and beaten before last, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Haafapiece (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
The Raven's Return 7-1 (11-4) In rear, ridden 3 out, never near leaders, 6th of 12, 22l behind Guardia Top (10-3) at Sandown 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Perfect Myth 11-2 (11-13) In touch, pushed along 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 9, 30 1/2l behind Welland (11-4) at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Never Learn (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, took closer order 5 out, led 2 out, kept on well under pressure, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) gf in Oct beating Jarlath (11-6) by 6l, 5 ran.
Sparky Valentine (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Held up, closed 4th, outpaced 6th, soon weakened, 3rd of 7, 36l behind Early Morning Rain (11-8) at Lingfield 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Nineohtwooneoh (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, pushed along before 3rd, some headway 4 out, no impression and no chance with leaders 3 out, 7th of 13, 34 1/4l behind Melekhov (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (5) gs in Apr.
Vanderbilt (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 2 out, no impression, left in modest 4th last, 4th of 10, 29 3/4l behind Highway To Success (10-10) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Greenview Paradise (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Held up, never dangerous, 6th of 10, dist behind Highway To Success (10-10) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Fethard Flyer (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Led until pushed along before 2 out, lost 2nd between last 2, weakened before the last, 6th of 8, 12 1/4l behind Scrutinise (11-4) at Plumpton 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Niamh's Oscar (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Always behind, 10th of 13, dist behind Scardura (10-12) at Taunton 2m mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Motashakel (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Chased winner, no impression after 3 out, weakened before next, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 5, dist behind Allmankind (10-12) at Warwick 2m (4) gs in Nov.
