led, pressed from 4 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra
towards rear, pushed along and not fluent 4 out, weakened next
tracked leader, challenged from 4 out, led narrowly before last, caught post
tracked leaders, challenged from 3 out, ridden before last, kept on to lead post
mid-division, headway before 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, headway before 3 out, no extra from last
held up towards rear, weakened after 3 out
CHASSEUR DE TETE ran poorly on last month’s handicap debut but had finished a creditable third in novice company over track and trip before that. Lucinda Russell’s charge gets another chance in this. Booyakasha didn’t improve as expected at Kelso last time but Snougar gave a much better account on at Wetherby on his hurdling bow and is worthy of consideration. Jackhammer was rated 97 on the Flat as a two-year-old. He’s tumbled down the weights since but go could well if taking to the obstacles.
Biennial (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Ayr 2m mdn (5) hvy in Jan.
Booyakasha (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division on outside, reminders after 4 out, ridden and weakened after next, 10th of 14, 25 3/4l behind Clondaw Castle (11-4) at Kelso 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Chasseur De Tete (FR) 22-1 (11-11) Mid-division, weakened quickly halfway, 9th of 12, 27l behind Pistol (11-1) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Snougar (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 8 1/2l behind Destrier (11-10) at Wetherby 2m (4) hvy in Jan.
The Hard Shoulder (IRE) 80-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden and weakened well over 2f out, 6th of 7, dist behind Shantaluze (11-4) at Kelso 2m (5) hvy in Jan.
Cyprus Avenue 33-1 (10-12) Towards rear and in touch, pushed along before 4 out, blundered 3 out, soon lost place, 5th of 8, 23 1/4l behind Raised On Grazeon (11-5) at Newcastle 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Jackhammer (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 16th of 19, 17 1/4l behind Tomahawk Kid (11-0) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Specialist (IRE) 50-1 (10-6) Always towards rear, weakened after 3 out, last of 6, dist behind Grand Morning (11-8) at Ayr 2m (4) hvy in Feb.