prominent early, led at 4th, disputed lead 3 out, pulled clear after slick jump 2 out, drew further clear at last, impressive
led early, narrowly headed before 4th, reminder and disputed lead 3 out, pushed along and soon weakened before 2 out, pulled up
tracked leaders, shaken up after 3 out, lost position 2 out, kept on steadily into modest fourth but no match for front trio
midfield, headway to track leaders before 2 out, ridden 2 out, not fluent last
held up, reminders before 4th, lost touch, pulled up after 2 out
held up, blundered 1st, headway after 3 out, pushed along but weakened before 2 out
midfield, headway to track leaders 4th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up, took keen hold, hit 5th, headway into second 2 out, kept on but no match for easy winner
Tonyx, rated 85 on the Flat and a winner over 1m2f on Tapeta, is an interesting newcomer to hurdling while Jayaaah was up against a potentially-useful novice when second at Carlisle but we are going to stick with BAREBACK JACK. Donald McCain’s winning pointer made a smooth transition to hurdling at Musselburgh and can only improve further. Mickyh was last of four at Sandown and beaten a long way.
Bareback Jack (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Chased leaders on inside, challenged and mistake 2 out, led between last 2, edged left and joined run-in, stayed on to assert towards finish, won at Musselburgh 2m (4) gd in Nov beating Long Stay (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Bizerta (FR) (9-2) 4th of 6, 7 1/4l behind Robin Du Bois (9-2) at Chantilly 1m 2f mdn stks hvy in Oct.
Hey Blondie (FR) 300-1 (10-12) Led, took a keen hold, not fluent 1st, headed before 2 out, soon ridden for effort and weakened approaching last, last of 7, dist behind Sextant (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
Jayaaah (IRE) 11-8 (10-12) Just worse than midfield, headway 4 out, led before 2 out, headed before last, pushed along but not match for winner, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Sextant (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
Kildimo (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Mid-div, 6th 1/2way, prog in 4th bef 2out, no ex in fair 4th bef last where left 3rd, ko flat, 3rd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Geraldo (11-11) at Stowlin 3m mdn gd in May.
Mickyh (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Settled in last pair but well in touch, pushed along before 3 out, became detached before next and weakened quickly, last of 4, dist behind Golden Boy Grey (10-12) at Sandown 2m (3) hvy in Dec.
Tuff McCool (IRE) 40-1 (12-2) Mid-division, lost position 6f out, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 12, dist behind Dysart Diamond (11-9) at Limerick 2m Yielding in Jul.
Reassurance 22-1 (9-12) Midfield, driven and lost ground halfway, tailed off over 3f out, eased over 2f out, 10th of 13, dist behind Lucky Robin (8-10) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Tonyx 7-1 (9-6) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, not clear run inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 4th of 7, 1 3/4l behind Union (8-8) at Newbury 1m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.