tracked leader, led out wide 3 out, stayed wide and headed turning in, chased winner, ridden and kept on same pace run-in, well held
tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd and hit 3 out, every chance last, ridden and stayed on same pace run-in, well held
led until 3 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened home turn
waited with in rear, good headway on inside going well 3 out, led turning in, ridden and stayed on gamely run-in
last pair, closer in mid-division 3rd, headway out wide chasing leaders before 3 out, ridden and weakened quickly home turn
mid-division, closer at 5th, hit 4 out, headway out wide chasing leaders before next, pushed along and weakened quickly before next
mid-division on inside, lost place and in last pair 3rd, lost touch 6th, tailed off
chased leaders out wide, went 2nd 1st until after 3rd, chased leaders, dropped to mid-division when stumbled on landing and unseated rider 7th
The Big Doyen has undoubtedly improved but is rather exposed for a race like this. Moonovercloon has run 13 times over hurdles but CAPTAIN TEAGUE was making his hurdling debut when sauntering to victory in a Grade 2 at Chepstow and there is a good chance he’ll be back here next March if all goes to plan today. Kinbara has won his two hurdles starts by an aggregate of 36 lengths but this is a big step up in grade and the Sligo and Galway winner Sequestered is also likely to come up short.
Captain Teague (IRE) 5-6fav (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, mistake 6th, closed after next, not fluent 3 out, edged left and led before 2 out, ridden clear flat, stayed on well, won at Chepstow 2m 3f (1) gs in Oct beating Resplendent Grey (11-0) by 9 1/2l, 7 ran.
The Big Doyen (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Led, pushed along and strongly pressed when not fluent 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no impression on winner, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 7l behind High Class Hero (11-2) at Limerick 2m 5f lst (1) hvy in Oct.
Kinbara (IRE) 2-9fav (11-9) Chased leader, led before 3rd, not fluent 8th or 3 out, clear before last, very easily, won at Cartmel 2m 6f (4) hvy in Jul beating Jeepydoff Meel (11-9) by 18l, 4 ran.
Minella Missile (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Waited with towards rear, steady closer on inside into mid-division 4 out, smooth headway tracking leaders turning in, went 2nd 2 out, quickened to lead last, stayed on well, won at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Oct beating Don't Tell Su (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 15 ran.
Moonovercloon (IRE) 18-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 4th, ridden after 2 out, weakened before the last, 5th of 20, 10 1/4l behind Hyland (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Sequestered (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Towards rear, 6th halfway, headway on outer 3 out and 4th before next, 3rd and pushed along before last, ridden and kept on well run-in to lead closing stages, won at Galway 2m 5f hvy in Oct beating Stuzzikini (11-10) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Supreme Commander (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, not fluent 5th, 9th or 10th, dropped to rear before 11th, ridden 5 out, pulled up before 4 out, at Exeter 3m (6) gs in Mar.
Wild Side Of Life (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, pushed along and headed last, ridden and kept on run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 18, 5l behind Cherie D'am (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f (3) sft in Nov.
