tracked leaders, challenged 7th, led next, hard pressed last, soon headed, stayed on
held up in touch, challenged from 2 out, led after last, stayed on, driven out
always towards rear
in rear, ridden 7th, well beaten 3 out, pulled up before next
held up in rear, steady headway from 8th, went 3rd from last, kept on, no impression
led, mistake 5th, not fluent 7th, headed next, weakened before last
towards rear, mistake 8th, modest effort 2 out, no impression, mistake last
prominent, mistake 2nd, ridden 2 out, 3rd from after 2 out until last, kept on, no impression on front pair
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place after 8th, well beaten 3 out
mid-division, headway before 2 out, no impression, modest 5th last
chased leaders on inside, hit 4th, mistake 7th, soon ridden, lost place before 2 out
A winner on the Flat at Chester in September and effective on soft ground, FAITHFUL MOUNT is potentially well treated on his first run over hurdles in two years. His stable is going really well and the nine-year-old should take all the beating. Midnight Shadow had some decent form as a novice and was just beaten on his reappearance at Wetherby. He didn’t give his true running in the Greatwood at Cheltenham last month and looks a danger. Jetstream Jack is worth a market check on his first run for Olly Murphy and return to hurdling while Dubai Angel and Uptown Funk should be winning soon. Notwhatiam has won two of his three starts for Dan Skelton but stablemate Ch’tibello remains out of sorts. Tawseef looks vulnerable against younger rivals returning from a break.
Ch'tibello (FR) 14-1 (11-11) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, soon beaten, 9th of 11, 33 1/4l behind Black Mischief (11-0) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Midnight Shadow 10-1 (11-1) Prominent on outside, outpaced last (usual 2 out), ridden and weakened over 1f out, 14th of 18, 20 1/4l behind Nietzsche (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Tawseef (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Made all, pushed along 3 out, joined last, ridden and ran on, won at Bangor 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Monbeg Theatre (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Jetstream Jack (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Close up and disputed lead, lost position approaching straight but still chasing leaders, no extra and one pace after, 5th of 18, 29 1/4l behind Patricks Park (10-1) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Notwhatiam (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Held up in rear, headway on inside from 3 out, switched right before leading last, ran on, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Oh Land Abloom (11-8) by 2l, 7 ran.
Dubai Angel (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, under pressure 4 out, soon beaten, last of 9, 24 1/2l behind Aspen Colorado (10-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Rainbow Dreamer 12-1 (9-1) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, no impression in 4th final furlong, 4th of 18, 10 1/4l behind Thomas Hobson (9-10) at Ascot 2m 4f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
Jet Set (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Mistake and unseated rider 1st, at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gd in Nov.
Uptown Funk (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Prominent in chasing group, went 3rd after 3 out until before next, weakened soon after, 5th of 7, 17 1/4l behind Good Tradition (11-10) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Faithful Mount 15-2 (9-0) Tracked leader 4f, tracked leaders, 2nd 4f out, led inside final 2f, ridden and headed over 1f out, 3rd and one pace final furlong, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Arrowtown (9-5) at York 2m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Mahlervous (IRE) 28-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway before 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden to challenge turning in, led briefly over 1f out, stayed on to chase winner inside final furlong, always just held, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Speedo Boy (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
