led until 1st, chased leader until 4th and dropped to rear, rallied and left 2nd 2 out, challenged last, stayed on to lead towards finish
not jump well, tracked leading trio, went 3rd at 4th until mistake 6th, mistakes 7th and next, ridden and weakened before 4 out, left poor 4th 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd at 4th until approaching 4 out, chased leading pair, 2nd again 3 out, left in lead last, ridden run-in, headed and no extra towards finish
chased leader, led 1st, hit 5th and 9th, hit 4 out and headed, mistake and lost 2nd next, kept on same pace in 3rd
held up last, headway into 3rd place 6th, hit 9th, led going well 4 out, clear when fell 2 out
NonRunner
Beau Et Sublime has won over fences though has been confined to hurdling since 2016. Mumgos Debut is better over further these days but Echo Express dropped down to the minimum trip for a hard-fought victory at Hexham and a 5lb rise shouldn't prevent another big run. JOHN WILLIAMS made most over 2m4f at Musselburgh but is just as effective over today's trip and has only gone up 3lb so looks the one to be on. Cool Valley was beaten 12 lengths in that latter event and is tried in blinkers but Las Tunas has won over the course and distance from a much higher mark so isn't out of this.
Mumgos Debut (IRE) 10-1 (12-1) Prominent, keen, slow 5th, effort 3 out, weakened after next, 4th of 7, 10 1/4l behind Casual Cavalier (11-10) at Ayr 2m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Echo Express (IRE) 7-4fav (11-11) In touch, headway to chase leaders 4 out, led 3 out, strongly challenged after last, held on gamely, won at Hexham 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec beating Kavanaghs Corner (11-3) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
John Williams (IRE) 7-4fav (10-11) Made all, pressed briefly 4 out, ridden and stayed on flat, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Dec beating Henry's Joy (11-12) by 1l, 5 ran.
Cool Valley (IRE) 15-2 (10-10) Close up, ridden 4 out, not trouble leaders, weakened flat, 4th of 5, 14l behind John Williams (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Las Tunas (FR) 5-1 (10-4) Mid-division, headway to track front pair after 4 out, went 2nd when ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, no threat to easy winner, 2nd of 11, 21l behind Xpo Universel (11-4) at Kelso 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Beau Et Sublime (FR) 25-1 (10-0) Keen early, held up on outside, not fluent 2nd, closed after 6th, 4th and beaten from 2 out, no extra flat, 5th of 7, 11 1/4l behind Le Patriote (11-5) at Ayr 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
