held up towards rear, took keen hold, not much room and stumbled 3rd, headway 2 out, went 3rd flat, kept on
led, ridden along before hitting 5th, headed 2 out, soon led again, headed off last bend, stayed on same pace flat
held up towards rear, took keen hold, closed after 3rd, not fluent 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before last
chased leaders, ridden after 2 out, led last, stayed on well
held up in rear, headway on outside 2 out, led off last bend, headed last, held flat, stayed on towards finish
held up in mid-division, headway 7th, led 2 out, soon headed, weakened and pulled up before last
chased leader, every chance 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, slow 2nd, not fluent 6th, headway 3 out, ridden off last bend, 5th and no impression last, no extra flat
Protektorat was racing for the third time on this track when landing a Listed contest on New Year's Day and is still on the upgrade. Winning point-to-pointer and bumper King Roland found 2m too short on his hurdling debut at Newbury but made amends when stepped up to 2m2f at Exeter where he came home virtually alone. Ruthless Article has won a couple of novice hurdles in good style but takes a big leap in class. House Island scrambled home at Ludlow but did much better when just failing to concede 3lb to Enrilo in a Sandown Grade 2 next time. ROCKET LAD looked a very smart prospect when comfortably beating subsequent dual winner Drury at Gowran but finished lame when last of five at Cork next time and can make amends.
Protektorat (FR) 15-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway after 3 out, led last, edged right flat, stayed on, just held on (disqualified and placed 2nd), won at Cheltenham 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Jan beating Imperial Alcazar (11-0) by hd, 6 ran.
House Island (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Led, ridden 2 out, hit last and soon headed, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Enrilo (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
French Kiss (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden next, went 3rd 2 out, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 9, dist behind Nelson River (10-12) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Harry Senior (IRE) 4-5fav (11-0) Chased leaders, close 3rd 2 out, led before last, clear flat, comfortably, won at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) hvy in Dec beating Global Fame (11-0) by 5l, 15 ran.
King Roland (IRE) 2-7fav (11-4) Waited with, steady headway 4th, tracked leaders next, led going well 4 out, drew well clear before 2 out, easily, won at Exeter 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Jan beating Thunderstruck (11-4) by 19l, 14 ran.
Rocket Lad (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Led and disputed, led before 2nd, not fluent 6th, ridden and headed 3 out, 3rd and no impression 2 out, no extra from last, last of 5, 21l behind Well Set Up (10-7) at Cork 3m lst (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Ruthless Article (IRE) 11-8 (11-10) Chased leaders, went 2nd from 3rd, not fluent 3 out, led approaching 2 out, ridden clear flat, won at Newton Abbot 2m 6f (4) gd in Sep beating Shaman Du Berlais (10-12) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Time Flies By (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Close up in 4th, ridden and went 3rd approaching 2 out when not fluent, kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 12 1/2l behind Master Debonair (11-3) at Ascot 2m (1) hvy in Dec.
