chased leaders, pushed along after 11th, weakened 14th, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 14th, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 9th, stayed on one pace from 2 out, no impression on winner
tracked leaders on outside, not fluent and 2nd from 12th, no impression on winner 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up, not fluent 6th, headway from 11th, 4th at the 13th, no extra 2 out
jumped right at times, made all, clear 2 out, eased towards finish
tracked winner, reminder 5th, lost 2nd 12th, mistake next, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear on outside, some headway 13th, mistake and weakened next, pulled up after 4 out
prominent, lost place and hit 6th, not much room 8th, well beaten from 12th, pulled up before 3 out
I Just Know won at Hexham in November and has only found one too good in two runs off this mark since. Sue Smith’s charge has to go on the short-list while Duke Arcadio was only beaten half-a-length by Deputy Commander here two runs ago and is 2lb better off. Kilronan Castle is getting closer and Beggars Cross is eased in grade, though needs to improve on his efforts so far over the larger obstacles. TOWERING tackles fences for the first time off the same mark as when winning over hurdles at Cheltenham early last season. He is back over his best trip today and will have had plenty of schooling.
Royal Milan (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, never a factor, 9th of 12, dist behind Beware The Bear (11-9) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Wade Harper (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) In rear, ridden 11th tailed off when pulled up before last, at Bangor 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Deputy Commander (IRE) 5-2fav (12-2) Behind, outpaced 5 out, 3rd of 8, 18l behind Zephyros Bleu (11-8) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Towering (IRE) 9-4jfav (11-7) Held up, in touch, not fluent 5th, mistake 4 out, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 7, 16 1/4l behind Ten Sixty (11-8) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Beggars Cross (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, pushed along and reminders before 5 out, weakened next, 4th of 5, 24l behind Churchtown Champ (11-8) at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
I Just Know (IRE) 7-4fav (11-3) Led, headed before 4 out, ridden before last, kept on, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Two Smokin Barrels (10-11) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Duke Arcadio (IRE) 5-2fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, lost place when hampered 7th, badly hampered 12th, soon pulled up, at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Bertie Lugg 25-1 (10-13) Prominent, not fluent 2nd, mistake 11th, 3rd and driven 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 9, 23l behind Return Flight (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Kilronan Castle 2-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase front pair before 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, just failed for 2nd, no impression, 3rd of 9, 4 1/4l behind Attimo (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
