held up, went 4th approaching 9th, went 2nd 3 out, no chance with winner
tracked clear winner after 1st until 4th, lost 2nd after 6th, pushed along before 8th, weakened 9th
tracked leaders, chased winner after 6th, ridden after 9th, lost 2nd 3 out, kept battling for position thereafter, no chance with winner
made all, clear after 1st until 4th, drew clear again approaching 3 out, blundered 2 out, unchallenged
took keen hold, tracked leaders, steadied before 4th, last approaching 7th, soon weakened, tailed off
held up, went 4th before 4th, weakened approaching 8th, tailed off
held up, in rear, headway on inside approaching 8th, disputing 2nd 9th, weakenend after 3 out
Alan King's Nulato showed decent form in bumpers in winning two of his three starts before disappointing on his hurdling debut on his only subsequent start when pulled up at Towcester in October 2008 and he is surely better than he showed that day but he is hard to back with any confidence in a race that looks to lie between BE THERE IN FIVE and Silver Kate with preference for the former. The selection was a point-to-point winner in Ireland and put up a decent effort on his rules debut for Nicky Henderson when landing a maiden hurdle at Chepstow over 2m4f in good fashion, readily accounting for his rivals. He should come on for that outing and should also improve for the step up to three miles having won over the trip in points and looks hard to oppose. Ian Williams has his string in good form so Bob 'n' You has to be considered but he needs to step up on the form that he showed in an admittedly better race than this at Cheltenham last month to trouble the judge. Don McCain's Will Be Done has shown a decent level of form over fences but has yet to run to a similar standard over timber, although it may be too early to write him off. Silver Kate ran well in all four starts in bumpers last term but has shown improved form since being put over hurdles this term and he has to be respected but Be There In Five looked one to keep on the right side of when winning at Chepstow and he gets the vote.
Bob 'n' You (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, hit 6th, still pressing leaders 3 out, ridden and weakened well before last, 5th of 7, 19l behind Restless Harry (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan.
Will Be Done (IRE) 3-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, mistake and rider lost iron 2nd, blundered and lost place 11th, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by The Sawyer (9-8) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Be There In Five (IRE) 7-2fav (11-0) Tracked leader from 3rd, led going well 2 out, shaken up and drew clear approaching last, easily, won at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating Volador (11-0) by 9l, 13 ran.
Silver Kate (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Led, headed 4th, tracked leader, led again 8th, ridden and headed between last 2, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Sweetheart (11-0) at Ascot 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan.
Busy Times (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Led to 6th, hampered 3 out, no impression after, 5th of 10, 14l behind Little George (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Nulato (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, held up towards rear, headway after 6th, hit next, not fluent 8th, soon weakened, pulled up before next, in a race won by Woodlands Gem (10-5) at Towcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct '08, 10 ran.
Misstree Dancer 5-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway on inside approaching 5th, led after 7th until fell 3 out, in a race won by Little George (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
