always in rear, jumped right 7th, tailed off
mistake 3rd, held up in rear, headway on outside 7th, chased leaders before 3 out, driven and weakened between last 2
close up, tracked leaders from 4 out, went 2nd next, led on bit 2 out, shaken up before last, ridden and drew right away, run-in, impressive
in touch, mistakes 2nd and 5th, ridden before 8th, weakened before 3 out, hit next
mistake 2nd, mid-division, hit 4th and next, weakened soon after 4 out
in rear when bumped 7th, soon well behind, tailed off
in touch until weakened soon after 4 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened soon after 4 out
prominent, ridden to chase winners soon after 2 out, no impression when hit last, weakened run-in
tracked leader, led before 5th, headed 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, ridden and beaten before 3 out
held up in rear, headway 8th, driven and stayed on between last 2, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
in touch, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
prominent until 4th, weakened rapidly, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led to before 5th, chased leader to before next, mistake 8th, weakened quickly before next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
always behind, tailed off
chased leaders, led 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, staying one pace when hit last
in touch, ridden 8th, mistake next, weakened before 3 out
held up in rear, headway before 9th, blundered next, weakened before 2 out
Black Jack Ketchum was switched by Jonjo O'Neill to this three mile contest rather than tackling the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle on Wednesday and he can make that decision pay, with Toofarback, Travino, It's A Dream and Dream Alliance. The selection has plenty going for him, having won three from three so far this campaign, including a course and distance success. The yard are in decent enough form here, this gelding still looks progressive on top of achieving more than all of his opponents and he remains an exciting prospect. The Irish challenge is probably headed by Toofarback. Trainer Noel Meade and jockey Paul Carberry are having very good festivals and they will be very hopeful of a big performance from this rapidly improving sort, though the ground might just be quickening a bit too much. Travino steps up to three miles for the first time and that looks sure to elicit further improvement from this consistent gelding, who has recent form with Festival winner Nicanor and who races on good ground for the first time here. Dream Alliance was touted for this after his Chepstow success on desperate ground in January, which he followed up at Haydock and he too steps up in trip here. He is certainly open to further improvement and will need to be to score. It's A Dream is probably the next best of the Brits, though he is destined to be a chaser. However, he is a throughly decent hurdler on what we have seen so far and if he handles faster ground then he won't be far away, but Black Jack Ketchum sets a searching standard and can score for Jonjo, JP and AP.
Ask The Gatherer (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, ridden after 4 out, outpaced next, kept on from last, no impression, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Neptune Collonges (11-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Back To Bid (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Settled 4th, lost place 5 out, ridden before next, headway into 2nd after 3 out, hit 2 out, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Merdeka (11-5) at Naas 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Black Jack Ketchum (IRE) 4-6fav (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 10th, led soon after last, comfortably, won at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Dec beating Gungadu (11-0) by 2l, 6 ran.
Dream Alliance 1-3fav (11-9) Chased leaders, led 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Woodview (11-3) by 12l, 8 ran.
Five Colours (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, not fluent 6th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, every chance last, ridden and hung left flat, kept on, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Neptune Collonges (11-11) at Haydock 2m 7f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
It's The Limit (USA) 9-1 (10-5) Led to after 6th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Andreas (11-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Feb.
Its A Dream (IRE) 8-13fav (11-11) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, stayed on gamely flat, won at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Sharajan (11-4) by 1l, 11 ran.
Jeremy Cuddle Duck (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden after 4 out, outpaced when hit 2 out, no danger after, 5th of 6, 7l behind Neptune Collonges (11-11) at Haydock 2m 7f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Karanja 2-5fav (11-11) Mid-division, headway 5th, close 2nd 8th, soon beaten, tired when pulled up 2 out in race won by Before Dark (11-5) at Hereford 3m 2f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 16 ran.
Mister Top Notch (IRE) 8-11fav (11-12) Always close up, led from 4th, clear after 2 out, stayed on well, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn hdl gs beating Candy Girl (11-7) by 5l, 26 ran.
Oscar Park (IRE) 9-4 (11-10) Mid-division, headway 7th, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, not quicken flat, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Be Be King (11-10) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Powerstation (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up, last and trailing halfway, progress into moderate 4th 3 out, kept on, 4th of 6, 10l behind Travino (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 1 sft in Dec.
Screenplay 8-1 (11-5) Held up, headway from 5th, chased leaders after 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 17, 20l behind Temoin (11-12) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Smileafact 100-1 (9-11) Always behind, struggling 5th, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Temoin (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Super Lord (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Held up and keen, headway 11th, mistake 13th, ridden 16th, weakened 17th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Bob Bob Bobbin (11-5) at Chepstow 3m 2f beg chs (4) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Toofarback (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Close up, led 2 out, strongly pressed before last, stayed on well, won at Naas 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan beating Vic Venturi (11-8) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Travino (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Settled 2nd, led from 5th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no extra when slight mistake last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 11l behind Nicanor (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Jan.
Zipalong Lad (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Held up in mid-division, headway from 6th, chased leaders next, led well before 2 out, drew well clear between last 2, eased near finish, won at Lingfield 2m 3f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Snakebite (11-6) by 19l, 12 ran.
Shouette (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Led and disputed, headed after 4 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 37l behind Tiarella (11-7) at Limerick 2m 3f hdl gs.
Alderbrook Girl (IRE) 7-1 (9-13) Tracked leader, led after 5th, headed 7th, ridden and dropped to rear after 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Rude Health (9-7) at Market Rasen 2m 3f mrs hcp hdl (4) hvy, 6 ran.
