tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, one paced from next
in rear, headway 4 out, no impression from last
tracked leader, ridden 3 out, stayed on from last, no impression on winner
made all, ridden 2 out, readily
always in rear, tailed off and pulled up 2 out
Dream Flyer's penalty for scoring at Wetherby counts against him here and I Need Gold, a close-up third, may well reverse running on better terms. But FIVE IN A ROW makes most appeal as the point-to-point and Carlisle bumper winner made a decent debut over hurdles when fourth at Newcastle in November. He finished behind a couple of subsequent winners so the form looks solid and he can open his account in this. The remaining pair are easily overlooked on what little they've shown so far.
Dream Flyer (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Held up in touch in 4th, headway before 3 out, led 3 out, mistake 2 out, pressed last, kept on well towards finish, won at Wetherby 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Bhakti (10-12) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Ballythomas 20-1 (12-0) Ap; led 8-13 & 4 out til hdd app 2 out; no ex, 2nd of 9, 15l behind The Wealerdealer (12-0) at Black Forest Club 2m 4f ptp gs in Dec '12.
Five In A Row (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, driven before 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with leaders before next, 4th of 7, 12l behind Ballyalton (11-3) at Newcastle 2m 6f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Nov.
I Need Gold (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 4 out, ridden before 3 out, every chance 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 13, 3/4l behind Dream Flyer (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Frosty Dawn 100-1 (10-2) Held up in rear in touch, struggling 8th, tailed off when pulled up before next, in a race won by Walk On Al (10-12) at Southwell 3m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
