led, headed 4th, with leader until ridden 4 out, hit and weakened next, tailed off
keen, tracked leaders, pressed leader 4 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, outpaced from 4th, behind 4 out, pulled up next
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, pulled 2 out
held up, ridden and outpaced 4 out, tailed off next, pulled up 2 out
in rear, headway 4th, tracked leaders 3 out, effort between horses next, soon led, ridden out
ran loose for over a mile and crashed through some plastic rails before start, raced freely and pressed leader, led 4th, pressed from 3 out, headed soon after next, kept on
Haut Bages won on the Flat in France and has joined Oliver Sherwood while Rio Falls won at Wolverhampton in May but was well beaten on his hurdling bow in Listed company at Wetherby. Sky Lino and Sikandar failed to figure on their respective hurdling debuts so a chance is taken on QATEA. A winner on the Flat for John Oxx in Ireland, he may prove good enough now hurdling for the first time for Donald McCain's yard.
Baler Boy 10-1 (10-11) Reared up as stall opened and unseated rider, at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (6) hvy in Oct.
Haut Bages (FR) (8-11) 4th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Winterhawk (8-5) at Les Sables 1m 5f stks sft in Jun.
Put The Boot In (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders on inside, jumped left at times, not fluent 1st or 3rd, hampered 6th, weakened before 3 out, mistake 2 out, 5th of 7, dist behind Wolf Of Windlesham (10-12) at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Qatea (IRE) 4-7fav (9-13) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, challenged straight, ridden over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Nice Vintage (8-6) at Clonmel 1m 2f hcp sft in May.
Rio Falls (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Jumped poorly, tracked leading pair until 2nd, outpaced and struggling from 4th, tried to make ground on flat after 6th, outpaced again when blundered badly again 3 out, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Leoncavallo (11-6) at Wetherby 2m lst (1) sft in Oct.
Sikandar (IRE) 7-2fav (10-12) Not fluent, prominent, mistake 1st, outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, dist behind Leoncavallo (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (2) gd in Sep.
Sky Lino (FR) 12-1 (10-12) In touch, went 3rd from last, kept on and no impression, 3rd of 7, at Chepstow 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Red Touch (USA) 100-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, some headway 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 10th of 12, dist behind Chic Name (10-12) at Warwick 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.