held up mid-division, weakened before 6 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened before last
tracked leader, led 3rd, headed before 5th, pushed along 10th and soon outpaced, kept on from 2 out, no impression
held up towards rear, headway 9th, went 3rd before 10th, led 3 out, clear before 2 out, ran on well
tracked leaders, weakened before 6 out
led to 3rd, led again before 5th, headed 3 out, one pace and no chance with winner
in rear, weakened 5 out
Hazy Tom has lost his way a little since winning at Bangor in October albeit competing in better company than this. Nadiya De La Vega also needs to bounce back from a couple of below par efforts but has leading claims if doing so judged on her win at Fairyhouse back in April. The handicapper has taken no chances with Off The Ground and he has a 15lb hike in the weights to contend with after scoring here last month. KINGS GREY had a spin over hurdles last time but is better judged on his earlier third behind Eastlake at Aintree and Keith Reveley's charge gets the vote on that form.
Hazy Tom (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, well held when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Cantlow (11-5) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Kings Grey (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, one pace from 3 out, not fluent 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 14, 16l behind Mijhaar (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Nadiya De La Vega (FR) 12-1 (10-3) Chased leaders on outside, lost place 4 out, behind when hampered next, 13th of 20, well behind Johns Spirit (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Off The Ground (IRE) 13-8fav (11-0) Mid-division, mistake 7th, went 2nd going well 10th, led before 4 out, clear approaching 2 out, easily, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov beating Woodbank (11-2) by 7l, 11 ran.
Arthur's Pass 33-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Tatenen (11-5) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov, 18 ran.
Tahiti Pearl (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Led, narrow lead when misake last, headed run-in, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Firth Of The Clyde (11-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Claragh Native (IRE) 9-1 (10-6) Close up, every chance 2 out, kept on to take 2nd towards finish, always held, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind De Boitron (11-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs.
