raced prominently, led 3 out, extended advantage 2 out travelling powerfully, clear before last, eased down closing stages, easily, only finisher
led, ridden before 3 out, headed 3 out, stayed on one pace, tiring when fell last
held up, ridden 6 out, struggling 5 out, finishing tailed off when refused last
held up, ridden 6 out, struggling 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up, mistake 4 out, headway before 3 out, fell 3 out
Ask Me Early won a chase on last year’s card and is being targeted at the Welsh Grand National. He reverted to hurdling at Exeter last month with a neck victory over GRANGE ROAD but the latter re-opposes on 9lb better terms, with Lorcan Williams’ allowance taken into account, and Paul Nicholls’ charge is fancied to turn the tables on this occasion. The remainder will do well to figure given His Oscar finished a distant second at Worcester on his hurdling bow while The Galloping Bear is another Welsh National entry and debuts over timber having won a couple of hunter chases early in the year before undergoing wind surgery.
Ask Me Early (IRE) 6-4fav (10-12) Held up in touch, lost a few places 2nd, effort after 8th, outpaced 3 out, well beaten next, mistake last, lost 5th towards finish, won at Exeter 2m 6f (3) gs in Nov beating Grange Road (11-4) by nk, 11 ran.
Grange Road (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Led, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and edged left flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Ask Me Early (10-12) at Exeter 2m 6f (3) gs in Nov.
Jukebox Junior 250-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, not fluent throughout, asked for effort 5 out, detached 4 out, kept on well for modest third from 2 out, 3rd of 12, dist behind Transfer Friendly (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Stoke Pero (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, closed 10f out, lost place over 3f out, 6th of 8, 21 1/2l behind Brief Times (11-2) at Ffos Las 2m (5) gs in May.
The Galloping Bear 8-11fav (12-2) Chased leaders, travelled well throughout, led 3 out, kept on well after 2 out, ran on after last, won at Carlisle 3m (5) sft in Mar beating Senor Lombardy (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
His Oscar (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway before 4th, mistake and reminder next, went 2nd after 6th until before 7th, weakened before 3 out, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 8, dist behind Fair Frontieres (11-4) at Worcester 2m 7f mdn (5) sft in Oct.
