chased leaders out wide, no extra in 4th between last two
chased leaders out wide, pushed along before 7th, weakened next
steadied well in rear, never a factor, tailed off 7th, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, weakened 7th, tailed off next, pulled up before 3 out
held up in last pair, good headway tracking leaders before 4 out, led soon after next, ridden and headed run-in, rallied gamely close home, just held
waited with in mid-division on inside, not fluent 6th, good headway chasing leaders before 4 out, 2nd soon after next, ridden to lead and edged right run-in, all out
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, edged right under pressure and one pace in 3rd run-in
led and disputed, headed 7th, chased leader until 3 out, chased leaders, weakened before next
led and disputed, mistake and headed 5th, led again 7th until pushed along and headed soon after 3 out, weakened before mistake next
A few of these are returning from a break but Better Getalong came good under Conor Rabbitt when reverting to hurdles in the spring, winning here in February. Good Bye is rarely far away and Shaws Bridge is probably on a decent mark. MULBERRY HILL has had a wind operation since a slightly below-par run last time at Worcester. Jack Hogan is good value for his 6lb claim in a race like this so Fergal O’Brien’s charge gets the nod with Aire Valley Lad possibly best of the rest.
Better Getalong (IRE) 10-1 (12-2) Chased leaders, led before 2 out, driven and headed flat, held close home, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Pammi (10-7) at Perth 3m hcp (4) gs in May.
Wall Of Fame (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Chased leaders on outside, went 2nd 3rd until 4th, lost place 3 out, 5th of 8, 21l behind Ted's Friend (11-4) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Louis' Vac Pouch (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Raced keenly in mid-division, headway to track leaders 13th, hit 14th, fell 4 out, at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Deluxe Range (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5th until before 7th, 2nd again from 8th, no impression on winner before last, 2nd of 4, 7l behind Johnson's Blue (10-6) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Salvino (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, jumped left 1st, mistake 5th, went second briefly after 3 out, pushed along and lost place approaching 2 out, soon no extra, 4th of 10, 21 1/2l behind Sporty Jim (11-6) at Perth 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Apr.
Mulberry Hill (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Held up in last, pushed along before 3 out, headway 2 out, no impression, no extra towards finish, 5th of 6, 5 1/4l behind Branson Missouri (10-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Good Bye (GER) 7-2 (12-0) Disputing lead when slowed markedly into 1st and headed, chased leader, led again before 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on but no impression towards finish, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Misty Mani (10-4) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Aire Valley Lad 9-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, dropped to last when not fluent 13th, headway before next, hampered by faller 4 out, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, went second after last, no match for winner, 2nd of 7, 12l behind Troed Y Melin (10-12) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in May.
Shaws Bridge (IRE) 5-2 (10-9) Held up in 4th, closed 3 out, chased winner after 2 out, switched left before last, no impression final 100 yards, 2nd of 5, 4 3/4l behind Bon Retour (12-0) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
