prominent, pushed along briefly before 5th, not fluent next, soon ridden, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next
prominent, led 2nd, headed after 3rd, led 5th until next, challenged 2 out, led last, edged right flat, driven out
led until 2nd, led after 3rd until 5th, led next, mistake 7th, joined 2 out, headed last, stayed on
held up, headway after 7th, ridden before 3 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, jumped right at times, headway on outside after 3rd, ridden 6th, weakened after next, tailed off
always in rear, tailed off after 7th
chased leaders, slow 1st, lost place 5th, not fluent 6th, blundered and weakened next, pulled up before 3 out
BILL AND BARN (NAP) dead-heated in a conditionals’ event over course and distance in December so escapes a penalty. He’s been second since over fences and, though his long-term future may be over the larger obstacles, he’s favoured by conditions in this. Pauls Hill showed himself suited by a test of stamina when beating a subsequent winner over 2m5f at Towcester and that looks stronger form than Rock My Style’s victory in a maiden at Hereford. This Is It won an Exeter handicap in November but has been well beaten since and none of the remaining trio make much appeal.
Pauls Hill (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, outpaced 3 out, rallied approaching last, every chance throughout run in, led close home, all out, won at Towcester 2m 5f (4) gs in Dec beating Tommy Rapper (10-12) by hd, 9 ran.
Rock My Style (IRE) 9-5fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, challenged 6th, ridden to lead before 2 out, pressed flat, driven out, in command towards finish, won at Hereford 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Jan beating Sunset Showdown (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
This Is It (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, pushed along 4 out, weakened soon after, 9th of 14, 36 1/4l behind One Of Us (10-11) at Ascot 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Bill And Barn (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Prominent in 4th place, chased winner from 3 out, kept on and no chance with winner after 2 out, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Le Boizelo (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Hillary View (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Behind, ridden and struggling in 6th before 4 out, plugged on into remote 4th at the last, 4th of 8, dist behind Scorpion Sid (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) hvy in Jan.
One Leader (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway on outside before 4th, lost place after next, well beaten 3 out, 12th of 16, dist behind Diablo De Rouhet (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) hvy in Jan.
Day In Paradise 200-1 (10-5) Always behind, weakened before 4 out, 5th of 9, dist behind Bill And Barn (10-12) at Chepstow 3m (4) hvy in Dec.
