held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, challenging when slightly hampered bend after 2 out, led approaching last, asserted flat, pushed clear, comfortably
tracked leader, ridden and every chance after 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, not fluent 4th or 5th, pushed along 3 out, no headway, well beaten 2 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, ridden after 3 out, never on terms
led, hung right and headed after 2 out, soon weakened, hit last
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway travelling well approaching 2 out, kept on to challenge winner last, soon hung left, no impression final 150 yards
prominent, led after 2 out, soon headed, weakened last
mid-division, headway 3rd, well in touch when sprawled on landing 2 out, not recover
mid-division, headway 3rd, lost place approaching 3 out, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, driven after 3 out, soon outpaced and lost place, rallied approaching last, went 3rd flat, no chance with front pair
Withdrawn
Nonrunner
A typically competitive contest kicks off 2010 at jumping's headquarters and RADIUM is just preferred to numerous others with chances, while Cunning Clarets may give him most to do. The Nicky Henderson-trained pick may just have needed his first run, finding less than was anticipated at the business end to take third at Newbury in November. His stablemate Spirit River finished behind him that day but gave the form a decent boost by coming out and winning here next time. The four-year-old gelding has raced only with cut in the ground so far, winning on it in France, so there are no problems with the ground or the trip and he is suggested. Richard Fahey will want to continue the superb form he enjoyed in 2009 by picking up this prize with Cunning Clarets. Out of the frame only once under rules, with that run being in the Grade 2 Aintree bumper last April, he has taken well to hurdles and acts with cut, and in receipt of 8lbs from the selection he is well respected. Coeur De Fou acts with cut and has not been far away in either of his recent runs. He will get further than this and the likely strong pace will suit, so he cannot be ruled out. Hellfire Club is an interesting runner at what will probably be a decent price. He fell at the last when in command at Taunton a few weeks ago and he would have to be considered an each-way prospect if he is over that experience. Jonjo O'Neill saddles Four Strong Winds, who is proven with plenty of cut in the ground and despite being a beaten favourite last time has still had only four runs and is not one to write off prematurely. A market check is advised. Sunny Mullen is dropped back markedly in trip after a three-mile win last time. He shoulders a big enough weight after that success, but he will have to be very versatile to come back this far and win, no matter how slow the ground or stiff this track is. Makhzoon makes his handicap debut for Tim Vaughan, and he stayed on well to score in novices' company at Leicester on bottomless ground last time. Market support for him should be viewed positively. The ground looks a bit too soft for Rileyev, but Lord Singer acts on it and hails from a yard in good form, while he also possesses stamina beyond this trip, so he is one to consider.
Radium (FR) 3-1fav (10-13) In touch, not fluent 2nd, headway, went 2nd 4 out, ridden, chasing leaders 2 out, stayed on same pace run-in, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Get Me Out Of Here (11-4) at Newbury 2m Conditional Handicap Hurdle (0-130) (4yo+) (3) sft in Nov.
Sonny Mullen (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway to chase leader approaching 4th, led before 2 out, edged left flat, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 3m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov beating Son Histoire (10-5) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Makhzoon (USA) 18-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance from 2 out looked held when left in lead last, ridden and stayed on, won at Leicester 2m cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) hvy in Dec beating Dona (10-7) by 2 3/4l, 13 ran.
Marley Roca (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, driven along before 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, went modest 3rd flat, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Aather (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
Empty Sky 8-1 (11-1) Made all, 2 lengths clear last, driven clear flat, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Novikov (10-11) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Four Strong Winds (IRE) 6-4fav (11-8) Held up in rear, headway 2 out, soon ridden to challenge, weakened last, 4th of 8, 5l behind L'homme De Nuit (11-1) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
King Ozzy (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leader, ridden to lead 2 out, headed approaching last, left 3rd and hampered flat, 3rd of 13, 14l behind Makhzoon (10-12) at Leicester 2m cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) hvy in Dec.
Cunning Clarets (IRE) 1-3fav (10-12) Held up, chased leaders 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on well, won at Hexham 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating Also Jo (10-7) by 4l, 10 ran.
Paddy Live (FR) 4-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, pushed along 6th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Natural Action (10-4) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Alesandro Mantegna (IRE) 28-1 (10-7) Held up in mid-division, mistake 6th, driven in 5th approaching 4 out, kept on into modest 3rd flat, tailed off, 3rd of 9, 29l behind Acordeon (10-13) at Ludlow 2m nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
Hellfire Club 5-6fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led approaching 6th, going well and in command when fell last, in a race won by Ocean Transit (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Coeur De Fou (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 18, 2 1/4l behind Stagecoach Pearl (11-5) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
Rileyev (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Chased clear leader until dropped to rear after 3 out, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Spear Thistle (11-11) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov.
American Cricket (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Prominent, lost place well before 3 out, headway approaching last, stayed on flat, 3rd of 16, 4 1/2l behind Black Apache (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Lord Singer (FR) 7-2 (10-12) Led, soon 8 lengths clear, headed approaching last, one pace, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Quartano (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 4f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) hvy in Nov.
Tiermore (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Held up in last, not fluent 5th or 10th, closed before 3 out, hit 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 29l behind Benbane Head (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gf in Oct.
