led 1st, headed narrowly 12th, lost place 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, left modest 4th last
in touch, pressed leader after 3rd, led narrowly 12th, driven and headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression in 3rd when fell last
in touch, tracked leaders 5th, went 2nd and poised to challenge 3 out, led approaching next, ridden between last 2, 3 lengths clear last, kept on when hard pressed closing stages, headed near finish
held up in touch, outpaced after 4 out, headway under pressure next, ridden after 2 out, 3 lengths down in 2nd last, rallied flat, led near finish
always in rear, struggling final circuit, lost touch when not fluent 14th, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
led to 1st, tracked leaders, reminder after 13th, outpaced after 4 out, no impression next, left 3rd at last, ridden and kept on flat, not reach front pair
Solstice Star has won seven times over hurdles but is yet to get off the mark over fences. He would have a chance on his best form and Richard Johnson will get the best out of him. SPECIAL PREP (NAP) was having only his fourth start over fences when storming away with a 3m2f Doncaster handicap last month. He's gone up 9lb but looks to be progressing fast enough to defy the extra. Little Bruce, four times a winner over hurdles and a winner over fences at Hexham in November, jumps and stays well as shown over 3m6f here last time while Lovely Job is tried in a visor after being beaten a long way at Cheltenham.
Lovely Job (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Prominent, lost place 13th, soon behind, tailed off 3 out, 5th of 11, dist behind The Young Master (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Straidnahanna (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Prominent, led 8th, headed 10th, led again next, headed 2 out, weakened after last, 4th of 8, 5 1/2l behind Rock On Fruity (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Special Prep (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 11th, went 2nd 14th, led 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Jan beating Plantagenet (11-3) by 12l, 6 ran.
Solstice Star 16-1 (11-11) Led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened quickly final furlong, 7th of 14, 17 1/2l behind Darling Maltaix (11-4) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Ballycrystal (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Mid-division, struggling when hit 12th, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 9, dist behind Cloth Cap (11-2) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Little Bruce (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led after 5th until 8th, chased leader, led again 10th until hit 14th, chased leader until after 16th, 2nd again next until after 4 out, went 2nd again last 100 yards, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Sharp Response (11-12) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp (3) gd in Jan.
