held up on outside, closed 4th, driven after 2 out, weakened before last
held up on inside, closed 7th, went 2nd before last, stayed on, always just held
held up, not fluent 5th, headway 8th, not fluent 3 out, outpaced next, soon switched right, mistake last, stayed on flat
made all, ridden approaching last, stayed on well
chased winner, not fluent 6th, ridden 2 out, lost 2nd before last, stayed on same pace flat
slowly into stride, jumped slowly, chased leaders, reminder 4th, lost place down back straight, rallied briefly after 8th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
COPPERHEAD reverts to hurdles for the first time since completing a double at Sandown two years ago. He developed into a smart chaser last season and, though failing to complete in his last three, can bounce back to form here. Poker Play gets plenty of weight and a recent second at Plumpton suggests he’s fairly treated at present. Blackjack Kentucky is another whose fortunes could be improved by a switch back to hurdles and Spiritofthegames has form in hot handicaps off this sort of mark, though hasn’t raced over the smaller obstacles since 2018.
Copperhead 12-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 9th, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Spiritofthegames (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, lost touch 11th, ridden after 13th, tailed off before 2 out, 8th of 12, dist behind Two For Gold (11-6) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Perfect Man (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway 7th, close up final bend, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, 30 1/2l behind Brinkley (10-7) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Blackjack Kentucky (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Prominent, awkward 4th, dropped to midfield 6th, pushed along 11th, ridden after 5 out, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Ffos Las 3m (4) hvy in Feb.
Poker Play (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Led, dived at 2 out, soon headed, chased winner, well held when went left last, held on for modest 2nd, 2nd of 8, 4 1/4l behind Zhiguli (11-3) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Diger Daudaie (FR) 25-1 (10-12) In touch, pushed along 7th, ridden and headway 2 out, plugged on, 4th of 9, 8 3/4l behind Potters Hedger (11-0) at Haydock 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
