in touch, headway 3 out, pushed to join leaders next, ridden to chase winner approaching last, stayed on one pace
led, headed 4th, tracked leader until pushed along 2 out, kept on same pace
keen tracked leaders, not fluent 2 out, soon weakened
in touch, headway 2 out, soon chased leaders, hampered last when left 3rd, kept on same pace
towards rear, ridden 2 out, never on terms
tracked leaders, lost place 4th, pushed along 6th, weakened
in rear, not fluent 3rd, behind 6th, never nearer
keen tracked leader, led 4th, ridden and joined 2 out, headed when fell last
close up, headway to join leaders 2 out, led approaching last, ran on, readily
in rear, pushed along and headway 2 out, ridden and kept on flat
Soldante placed three times in bumpers and made a winning start over hurdles at Tramore but this is a much tougher assignment for Ciaran Murphy’s raider. Unbeaten under Rules, DYSART ENOS had no trouble landing the odds at Huntingdon on her hurdling debut and she looks a high-class recruit to the jumping game. Spirits Bay found only the useful Southoftheborder too good on first run over timber at Exeter and the third has won since while Kintail beat a subsequent winner when odds-on at Warwick. Meatloaf’s victory at Wincanton has been franked while Mick’s Jet beat the latter in a bumper here last year and is another to follow in the months ahead. Beat The Bat also looks a nice prospect, though he’s been racing over further.
Beat The Bat (IRE) 6-4jfav (11-4) Held up in mid-division on inside, good headway chasing leaders before 3 out, went 2nd, led turning in, pushed along and strongly pressed from last, kept on gamely run-in, won at Ascot 2m 3f mdn (3) gd in Nov beating Welcom To Cartries (11-4) by hd, 10 ran.
Kintail 4-6fav (10-13) Tracked leader, led 3 out, pushed along 2 out, ridden and hit next, stayed on, won at Warwick 2m 3f (4) sft in Nov beating Clondaw Royale (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Meatloaf (FR) 10-11fav (11-0) Led, wandered into 1st, headed 4th, tracked leader, left in lead bend after 3 out, 3 lengths ahead and going well when left clear 2 out, ridden to assert between last two, won at Wincanton 1m 7f (3) gs in Nov beating Lily Luna (10-7) by 3l, 9 ran.
Soldante (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 4th 3f out, under pressure in 2nd 1f out, stayed on to press leader inside last 100 yards, led close home, won at Tramore 2m mdn sft in Nov beating Jolie Coeur Allen (11-5) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Ascension Day (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 5th, about 3 lengths clear when ran out last, at Worcester 2m mdn (4) gd in Jun.
How And Ever (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along over 2f out, soon outpaced, weakened final furlong, 6th of 16, 13 1/4l behind Captain Bellamy (10-13) at Chepstow 2m (5) gs in Oct.
Royal Defender (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Led, headed 2nd, tracked leader, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace flat, 3rd of 8, 5 1/4l behind Colours On Canvas (11-0) at Lingfield 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Shinji (IRE) 13-8fav (11-3) Jumped right and not always fluent, led until 6th, led before next, headed last (normal 2 out), hampered and weakened final bend, 5th of 9, dist behind Star Legend (11-3) at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Spirits Bay 11-2 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway before 2 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner, stayed on, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Southoftheborder (11-4) at Sandown 2m mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Dysart Enos (IRE) 1-7fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, led on bridle approaching 2 out, good jump last and cleared away run-in, easily, won at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Nov beating Parkin Fine (11-0) by 7 1/2l, 10 ran.
Brendas Asking (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway tracking leaders 4f out, soon ridden and outpaced, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 18 1/4l behind She's A Fine Wine (11-2) at Southwell 2m mdn (5) gs in Mar.
Micks Jet (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 15, 7 3/4l behind Baby Kate (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m lst (1) sft in Nov.
