held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, some headway but well off leaders when not fluent 3 out, well beaten 2 out
took keen hold, handy on inside, chased winner 3 out, well held from next
in rear, pushed along after 4th, well beaten from next, mistake 3 out
keen on outside, handy, ridden after 5th, soon left behind by leaders
held up towards rear, headway after 5th, outpaced when blundered 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, wandered into 1st and 2nd, not fluent after, weakened well before 3 out
prominent, ridden after 5th, soon weakeend
chased leaders, went 2nd from 2nd until 3 out, well held 3rd before last
held up in mid-division, weakened before 3 out,
made all, clear 2 out, easily
A number with chances with matters complicated by the presence of Rikoboy, who joined the Newland team from a French yard where he mixed chasing and hurdling. He was highly tried on debut at Cheltenham when unplaced in December and this should provide a better assessment of his ability. Watch him in the market. He may well prove good enough but ZOFFEE has gone really well on both starts despite being a beaten favourite and the form of his latest defeat has worked out well with the winner going in again. Peckinpah and Silkstone have also shown enough to land a small juvenile hurdle and more is expected from the ex-Aidan O'Brien inmate Kangaroo Valley, who now makes a first start for Philip Kirby.
Be Fair 7-2jfav (9-2) Keen in mid-division, headway on outside over 1f out, went 2nd and sustained run inside final furlong to lead towards finish, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Jan beating Noble Fox (9-8) by nk, 14 ran.
Isolate (FR) 6-1cfav (9-7) Tracked leaders on outside, driven and outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden and lost place, weakened final furlong, 11th of 13, 12 3/4l behind Ritchie Valens (9-9) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Kangaroo Valley (USA) 7-4fav (10-12) In touch, pushed along after 3rd, weakened 3 out, went poor 4th next, 4th of 8, 8 1/2l behind Cawthorne Lad (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Leading Knight (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Towards rear, mistake 3rd, not fluent and behind next, 7th of 10, 34 3/4l behind Mick Pastor (11-4) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Peckinpah (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, took keen hold, headway after 4 out, 3rd from 3 out, mistake 2 out, kept on, no impression on winner, 3rd of 10, 7 3/4l behind Mick Pastor (11-4) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Proton (IRE) 15-2 (9-3) Soon led, headed 9f out, tracked leader, ridden and every chance 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 5 1/4l behind Tavus (8-9) at Leicester 1m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Oct.
Ride The Monkey (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up behind, pushed along and lost touch after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Rikoboy (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, hit 4th, not much room on inside before 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened, bad mistake last, 6th of 8, 26 1/2l behind Botox Has (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (2) sft in Dec.
Silkstone (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, headway into 3rd before 2 out, ridden in 2nd between last 2, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Cawthorne Lad (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Zoffee 8-11fav (10-12) Chased leader, led 4 out, joined and hit 2 out, ridden between last 2, headed and no extra run-in, 2nd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Blacko (10-12) at Taunton 2m (4) sft in Dec.
