tracked winner, ridden before last, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish
made all, ridden before last, held on well
tracked leaders, pushed along before 3 out, kept on to chase winner towards finish, always held
mid-division, weakened before 3 out
tracked leaders, weakened before last
mid-division, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
in touch, ridden and weakened before 2 out
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on to take 4th place run-in
mid-division, weakened before 3 out
mid-division, weakened after 4 out
mid-division, weakened before 3 out
always towards rear, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
always behind, tailed off before 3 out
tracked leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened
Niblawi, rated 91 on the Flat, was joint favourite on his hurdling debut at Haydock but was quickly left behind by a more exposed winner who has been well beaten since. And The New still has some scope but hasn’t raced since third on his hurdling debut at Stratford last May. Paris Protocol won only once on the Flat but the trip won’t be a problem while Not That Fuisse showed improvement at Wetherby in November. Winning pointer and bumper Ravenhill Road won by 23 lengths at Sedgefield in October but didn’t beat much and has a penalty to carry. FRENCH CRUSADER (NAP) doesn’t really have a jumping pedigree but current connections paid 70,000 euros for the Kapgarde gelding and he was always travelling strongly when winning Huntingdon bumper. He has a few entries this week so it’s significant he comes here.
Ravenhill Road (IRE) 1-2fav (10-12) Mid-division, smooth headway to go prominent in chasing group 3rd, led after 3 out, came clear from next, very easily, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn stks (5) gs in Oct beating Inniscastle Lad (10-12) by 23l, 12 ran.
And The New (IRE) 8-13fav (10-12) Held up in rear, headway 2 out, ridden and unable to quicken in 3rd before last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 6, 7 1/2l behind Arthington (10-8) at Stratford 2m (4) gs in May.
Django Django (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 12, 26 1/2l behind Super Sid (10-12) at Southwell 2m mdn (5) sft in Dec.
Euxton Lane (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 10, dist behind Dans Le Vent (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f (4) gs in Nov.
French Crusader (FR) 5-6fav (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway over 4f out, went 2nd over 2f out, led over 1f out, pushed out, easily, won at Huntingdon 1m 6f mdn (6) gs in Nov beating Cheeky Chica (10-11) by 2l, 9 ran.
Naasik 100-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, lost place before 3 out, behind when hampered 2 out, tailed off, 11th of 12, dist behind Bulkov (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Niblawi (IRE) 13-8jfav (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3rd until 5th, challenged 3 out, ridden after 2 out, soon beaten, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Joke Dancer (10-12) at Haydock 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Nobel Duke (IRE) 9-2 (8-12) Keen tracked leader, led over 6f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Rebel Cause (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in May.
Not That Fuisse (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, good headway approaching 4 out, 3rd travelling well before next, went 2nd 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 9l behind Fin And Game (10-12) at Wetherby 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Oologist 66-1 (10-12) Led, headed before 3 out, soon lost place, weakening when fell next, at Hereford 2m 4f (4) gf in Nov.
Paris Protocol 14-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, driven over 2f out, ridden to challenge and every chance over 1f out, outpaced in 4th final furlong, 4th of 11, 5 1/4l behind Great Court (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Sliding Doors (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before last, 8th of 10, dist behind Vinndication (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f (3) sft in Dec.
The Last Of Them 25-1 (10-12) Lead, headed after 4th, every chance before 4 out, quickly weakened and pulled up before 3 out, at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) hvy in Dec.
More Than Two 40-1 (10-7) Jumped poorly and jumped left in rear, tailed off when jumped badly left 3rd and next, pulled up soon after, at Leicester 2m (5) sft in Dec.
Phoenix Rock (IRE) 150-1 (10-13) In touch, weakened 4 out, 12th of 15, dist behind Al Shahir (11-6) at Towcester 2m mdn (5) gs in Dec.
Your Wan (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, hampered 3rd, headway 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 14, 24 1/2l behind Spice Girl (10-12) at Towcester 2m mdn (4) gd in Nov.
