chased leaders on inside, pushed along in 4th and outpaced before 3 out, ridden and went modest 3rd again before next
chased winner until before 3 out, weakened into 4th before next
chased leaders, slightly lost place 6th, rallied after 4 out, 2nd before next, soon ridden and no chance with winner, mistake 2 out
held up in 5th, closer on inside tracking leaders 6th, outpaced soon after 4 out, tailed off
held up in last pair, pushed along before 4 out, soon ridden and beaten, tailed off
jumped slowly 8th, always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
made all, set steady pace, gradually quickened from 7th, pushed clear before 3 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
Leverock Lass won a maiden hurdle here in January but was well beaten in both subsequent starts while Hitman Fred looks high in the weights on what he's achieved to date. SPORTY YANKEE was having his fourth start for Gordon Elliott when producing easily his best run so far at Fairyhouse and a similar effort should be good enough for this. Cheers Jd was well supported at Sedgefield on Boxing Day but, though prominent throughout, couldn't find the extra when it mattered. Duty Girl had 14 starts in Ireland without reaching a place but did a little bit better for new connections at Southwell last month while Epsom Des Mottes showed a bit more dash at Newcastle and hasn't had much racing.
Hitman Fred (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inside, driven and outpaced before 2 out, soon ridden, never on terms, weakened flat, last of 9, 31 1/4l behind Spirit Of Kayf (12-1) at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Leverock Lass (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) Towards rear, ridden 4 out, some headway 2 out, never near leaders, 5th of 11, 29 3/4l behind Border Victor (11-7) at Wetherby 3m hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Sporty Yankee (USA) 8-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, 4th 4 out, improved to dispute lead briefly 3 out, ridden in 2nd before 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 3 1/4l behind Se Mo Laoch (11-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f hcp hvy in Dec.
Cheers Jd (IRE) 5-2fav (10-13) Held up in touch, mistake 1st, reminder after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 13, 5 1/4l behind Honourmission (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Duty Girl (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Towards rear, headway before 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, 4th of 11, 11 3/4l behind Norwegian Woods (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Meldrum Way (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, mistake 6th, headway 3 out, never nearer, 5th of 14, 8 1/4l behind Starplex (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Epsom Des Mottes (FR) 20-1 (10-10) Prominent, led 1st, hit 2nd, headed 4th, chased leaders, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 14, 11 1/4l behind Starplex (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
