never fluent and jumped right, bit keen and held up in 5th, left in 4th place going out on last circuit, ridden and no impression home turn, went badly right and rider lost irons 2 out, never a factor
led and soon clear, reluctant to race and ran off the course going out on final circuit, soon pulled up
jumped right at times, tracked leading pair, left in 2nd place going out on last circuit, went right and dropped to 3rd 4 out, ridden between last two, rallied into 2nd at the last, led and went clear run-in
held up in 4th, left 3rd going out on final circuit, went 2nd 4 out until the last, no extra in 3rd
tracked clear leader, left in lead going out on last circuit, ridden before the last, headed and not pace of winner run-in
NonRunner
DRAGON ROCK proved his stamina with a convincing success over fences on testing ground at Fairyhouse and though he could do with more rain looks the one to beat back over timber. Winning bumper Beachcomber showed his liking for a trip when landing a maiden hurdle at Huntingdon and makes his handicap debut. Blue Bikini won three times earlier in the year but ran poorly on her reappearance at Chepstow. Balkotic is on a 2lb lower mark than when successful here last November but it's two years since Jessie Lightfoot ran over hurdles. The last time Didtheyleaveuoutto ran at this level he scored from this mark at Cartmel and has a 7lb claimer on board.
Dragon Rock (IRE) 13-2 (12-4) Towards rear, headway 4 out, went 3rd next, led travelling well 2 out, soon went clear, not fluent at last, stayed on strongly run-in, easily, won at Fairyhouse 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Broken Ice (12-2) by 9l, 9 ran.
Beachcomber (FR) 9-4jfav (11-4) Made all, shaken up before 2 out, not fluent last, pushed out run-in, stayed on, always doing enough, won at Huntingdon 3m 1f mdn (4) gd in Nov beating Transmission (11-4) by 4 1/4l, 7 ran.
Blue Bikini 15-2 (11-9) Always last, pushed along before 5th, hit 6th, reminders and struggling after 4 out, tailed off when jumped slowly 3 out, pulled up before next, at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Jessie Lightfoot (IRE) 2-1jfav (10-5) Close up, closed 4 out, pushed along next, ridden and kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 11l behind African Dance (12-1) at Market Rasen 3m hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Balkotic (FR) 4-1 (10-4) Led until before 8th, outpaced after 2 out (normal 3 out), plugged on run-in, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Onward Route (11-7) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Didtheyleaveuoutto (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) In rear, pushed along and made no impression 2 out, 7th of 9, 13 1/4l behind Butler's Brief (11-11) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
