held up towards rear, jumped slowly 5th, behind from 8th, tailed and pulled up before 3 out
in rear, behind 10th, progress to go 13 lengths 4th 3 out, when 2nd between last 2, led flat, stayed on well
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up, hit 6th, headway 7th, mistake 10th, soon weakened, tailed off
chased leader until led approaching 2nd, ridden and headed 3 out, hit 2 out, soon hung right and weakened
chased leaders, pushed along after 2nd, not really going well after, behind 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway on inside after 7th, not fluent 8th, pushed along approaching 9th, no response, behind when blundered 2 out, virtually pulled up flat, tailed off
mid-division, jumped right and not fluent 3rd, ridden after 6th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up after 7th
led until approaching 2nd, chased leader until before 6th, mistake 7th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 6th, pushed along after 10th, led 3 out, edged right and headed flat, no extra
Wichita Lineman can emulate stablemate Black Jack Ketchum, successful in this 12-months ago, by seeing off the challenge of Massini's Maguire, with Silverburn and Wee Forbees best of the remainder. Wichita Lineman has been in terrific form over hurdles this season, winning four of his five starts, including the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, the same race that Black Jack Kethum captured before landing today's prize. Jonjo O'Neill is confident that his representative can repeat the feat, and as he has already finished ahead of both Secret Ploy and Chief Dan George, not to mention Silverburn earlier in the campaign, he has every right to feel bullish. The only horse to beat him this term, Massini's Maguire, stands in his way again, and lines up on the back of an unexpected success in the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle at the Festival, but O'Neill has stated that his horse was not at his best when beaten by the Hobbs inmate at Cheltenham in November, and on this flatter track and with the faster ground to help, he is confidently expected to turn the tables. Wee Forbees is the dark horse here, as he won in a canter at Sedgefield, bouncing off the fast ground to make all, and although upped markedly in class now, will not be disgraced according to his connections. However, it is hard to escape the claims of Wichita Lineman who will be hard to beat.
Battlecry 100-1 (11-7) Took keen hold in mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 15, 22l behind Massini's Maguire (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Chief Dan George (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 20, 26l behind Wichita Lineman (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Mar.
Imperial Commander (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Chased winner, not fluent 3rd, lost 2nd 3 out, weakened between last 2, 7th of 15, 14l behind Massini's Maguire (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Knowledge Box (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Towards rear, 9th 5 out, no impression under pressure approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 7th of 13, 25l behind Kazal (11-8) at Thurles 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 hvy in Mar.
Massini's Maguire (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Made virtually all, jumped right 5th, strong lead pressed from 2 out, stayed on gamely under pressure run-in, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar beating Tidal Bay (11-7) by a nk, 15 ran.
Secret Ploy 28-1 (11-7) Towards rear, stumbled approaching 5th, some headway next, ridden 8th, weakened after 3 out, 13th of 20, 44l behind Wichita Lineman (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Mar.
Silverburn (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Mid-division, headway and ridden after 3 out, unable to quicken 2 out, kept on under pressure run-in, 4th of 15, 5l behind Massini's Maguire (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Super Nick (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Prominent, mistake 3rd and 4th, weakened from next, tailed off, 10th of 16, well behind Anglicisme (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Wee Forbees (IRE) 5-4 (11-7) Made all, 11 lengths clear last, eased towards finish, easily, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Mar beating Escayola (11-7) by 7l, 10 ran.
Wichita Lineman (IRE) 11-8fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, hard ridden after 3 out, challenged next, just taking lead when left clear last, stayed on strongly, won at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Mar beating Air Force One (11-7) by 12l, 20 ran.
