led narrowly, slow 2nd, joined 5th, headed 9th, jumped left 13th and pushed along, awkward 14th, jumped ahead 15th, pushed clear 3 out, in command last, comfortably
prominent, pressed leader 4th, upsides 5th, led 9th, headed narrowly 15th, ridden after 4 out, weakened before 2 out
towards rear, awkward 4th, pushed along 14th, progress when unseated rider 16th
held up in rear, lost ground and reminders 10th, back on terms but in rear 11th, headway 12th, chased leading pair 15th, ridden before 4 out, moved into 2nd after 3 out, one pace
midfield, awkward 12th, steadily lost ground from 15th, well beaten when ridden 4 out
close up, awkward 2nd and restrained to midfield, not fluent 3rd, slow jump 11th, pushed along in rear 13th, lost touch 15th, soon tailed off
J'ai Froid, a winner over hurdles on this card 12 months ago, was well behind Doyen Breed at Hexham in the autumn and only fifth when CORACH RAMBLER (NAP) won at Cheltenham in December, though should get closer on the revised terms. Lucinda Russell’s charge was trying to give weight away to more experienced rivals in a Grade 3 at Warwick five weeks ago and is developing into a decent staying novice. Does He Know did well on faster ground in the autumn but he might find today’s conditions too testing carrying a penalty after a break while Annual Invictus will have stamina to prove. Fern Hill steps out of handicap company with a bit to find at the weights.
Does He Know 2-1fav (11-8) Mounted in stable and went to post very early, raced keenly in 4th, left in 3rd place 3rd, hit 6th, went 2nd at 8th, dropped to 3rd after 4 out, pushed along when left 2nd next, one pace and well held from next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 4 1/4l behind Threeunderthrufive (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Nov.
Annual Invictus (IRE) 9-4 (11-10) Kept wide in 3rd, went 2nd after 6th until 8th, outpaced and reminders after next, over 10 lengths down at the last, ran on well run-in, not reach leaders, last of 3, 2 1/4l behind Elixir De Nutz (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f (3) sft in Jan.
Corach Rambler (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up, dropped to rear 10th, ridden and headway under pressure 4 out, plugged on, 4th of 15, 19 1/2l behind Eclair Surf (11-3) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Doyen Breed (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, chased winner 11th, ridden 2 out, stayed on one pace, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Threeunderthrufive (11-7) at Warwick 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Fern Hill (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-2) Tracked leader, led 3rd, hit 13th, headed before hit 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Grumpy Charley (11-3) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
J'Ai Froid (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Reshod, tracked leader, led 2nd, hit 15th, headed briefly 16th, mistake and headed 4 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 5th of 6, 12l behind Corach Rambler (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
