tracked leading pair, challenged between rivals before 2 out, led approaching last, ridden and hard pressed flat, stayed on well final 100 yards
held up in last pair in touch, 4th and ridden before last, no impression with leaders
tracked leader, led 4th, headed approaching last, ridden and no impression with leading pair flat
held up in last pair in touch, went 3rd after 2 out, challenged last, ridden and every chance when hung left flat, kept on, no extra final 100 yards
led, mistake 3rd, headed next, tracked leader, lost place 2 out, weakened before last
Nonrunner
It's questionable as to whether OSCAR WHISKY would have actually got past Overturn at Ascot had he not stood on the final flight. But that was a still a decent comeback effort from Nicky Henderson's Champion Hurdle prospect, who should make amends here with a clear round. Exeter winner The Knoxs may find things happening too quickly for him over a shorter trip on faster ground, while Get Me Out Of Here finished six lengths behind Any Given Day on his reappearance at Haydock. The County Hurdle runner-up is 5lb better off here, however, and has yet to run a bad race on this track. Cockney Trucker is on a long losing run and has a bit to find at the weights but still makes more appeal than The Jigsaw Man, who returns from a break.
Oscar Whisky (IRE) 5-6fav (11-8) Tracked winner, hit 3 out, driven to challenge upsides and every chance when fell last, in a race won by Overturn (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f hdl G2 (1) gd in Nov, 7 ran.
Any Given Day (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, headway 3 out, joined leader next, ridden to lead narrowly between last 2, edged left flat, held on, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov beating Wyse Hill Teabags (10-7) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Cockney Trucker (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Held up in 6th off the pace, good headway to track leader 5th, went right 4 out, went right next, still upsides and every chance when went right 2 out, weakened to 4th between last 2, beaten when went badly right and mistake last, 5th of 10, 23l behind King Of The Night (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Get Me Out Of Here (IRE) 15-2 (11-8) Held up behind, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, soon chased leaders, kept on same pace, no impression when hung left flat, 5th of 12, 6l behind Any Given Day (11-7) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
The Knoxs (IRE) 7-4fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, challenged 8th, led approaching 3 out, mistake 2 out, ridden flat, comfortably, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov beating Five Dream (10-7) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
The Jigsaw Man (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Led to 1st, tracked leader, lost place 4th, soon ridden and behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Cygnet (9-9) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Jul, 8 ran.
