in touch in mid-division, headway 3rd, challenged after 3 out, led next, drew clear final 200 yards, ran on well
tracked leaders on outside, took keen hold, lost place 2nd, hit next, not fluent 6th, headway after 6th, went 4th approaching 3 out, no chance with leaders, tailed off
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4th, led approaching 3 out, headed when not fluent 2 out, weakened last
held up in mid-division, mistake 5th, headway after next, close up when not fluent 3 out, soon switched left, ridden to press winner last, no impression final 200 yards, one pace
held up in rear, took keen hold, mistake 5th, closed next, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
led, headed approaching 3 out, weakening when mistake 3 out, soon pulled up
jumped right, tracked leader until before 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
mistake 6th, always in rear, tailed off before 3 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, ridden and struggling after 6th, tailed off
Cinders And Ashes was only beaten a length by Broadbackbob on his hurdling debut at Ascot and ran KEYS to a short-head in a bumper at Cheltenham in January. However, the latter has arguably made the greater progress since, winning twice on the Flat, and could have more improvement in him now he's joined a powerful NH yard. Barry Geraghty's mount gets the vote in this opener though High Office and Ile De Re were decent stayers on the Flat and Victor Echo won a Fontwell bumper by eight lengths in April.
Cinders And Ashes 5-2 (11-0) Mid-division, blundered 5th and soon lost place and eased, headway after 3 out, led before last, headed soon after, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Broadbackbob (11-0) at Ascot 2m hdl (3) gd in Nov.
High Office 11-2 (9-11) Held up in touch, chased leader over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 6l behind Lexington Bay (8-8) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) sft in Sep (flat).
Ile De Re (FR) 22-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear when stumbled and unseated rider after 2f, in a race won by Zuider Zee (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov, 23 ran (flat).
Keys (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Mid-division, headway on outside 3f out, led over 1f out, soon edged slightly left, bumped and headed narrowly, maintained strong challenge, bumped twice towards finish, led post, won at Cheltenham 1m 6f 4yo NH flat (Listed) (1) gs in Jan beating Cinders And Ashes (11-2) by shd, 16 ran.
Magic Cat (9-8) 98th of 17 Earl of Fire (9-5) at Saint-cloud(FR) 1m clm gd in Nov (flat).
Manahej (USA) 22-1 (11-0) Towards rear, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, weakened soon after, 10th of 12, well behind Cape Dutch (10-7) at Hexham 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Sep.
Pravda Street 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway when pecked 5th, chased leaders 3 out, outpaced next, no impression, 5th of 18, 9l behind Distime (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Tropenfeuer (FR) 66-1 (10-5) Took keen hold, held up in 4th, no chance with leaders well before 3 out, 5th of 7, well behind Perpetually (11-5) at Haydock 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Mahfal (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway from 2 out, no impression from before last, 5th of 9, 24l behind Philharmonic Hall (10-12) at Hexham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Victor Echo (IRE) 3-1fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, chased leader 6f out, led over 2f out, kept on well, won at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gd in Apr beating Majorica King (11-4) by 8l, 14 ran.
