held up in mid-division, pushed along omitted 3 out, no impression when hung left omitted 2 out
held up off the pace in last pair, pushed along in home straight, never a factor
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along omitted 2 out, weakened soon after
off the pace and never closer than mid-division
raced wide tracking leaders, hit 2nd, 3rd and no impression when edged left and ridden omitted 2 out, stayed on strongly towards finish, just held
off the pace in mid-division, pushed along omitted 3 out, soon weakened
raced on inside, mid-division, pushed along and struggling towards rear omitted 3 out, never a factor, tailed off
off the pace towards rear, pushed along in mid-division bypassing omitted 3 out, headway chasing leaders omitted next, went modest 4th soon after
chased winner, hit 3rd, strong challenge towards finish, just held
made all, pushed along omitted 2 out, strongly pressed and stayed on gamely towards finish (3 hurdles in home straight omitted due to low sun, 4 hurdles jumped in total instead of usual 8 )
held up off the pace in rear, never involved
NonRunner
Tommy‘s Oscar is a Grade 2 winner over hurdles but he’s better known as a chaser nowadays. First Impression is a useful dual-purpose performer but Glorious Zoff has been on the go for while. Clear White Light is fast becoming a course specialist and trounced Soaring Glory here two weeks ago despite having a first run since April. He’s still at the right end of the handicap and Dylan Johnston’s claim is a further plus. Langer Dan is best in the spring and Too Friendly was also pulled up last time but GIN COCO justified market support to win at Ascot last month and is another who may still be ahead of the handicapper so he gets the nod with Matchless carrying overweight and Rare Edition having a first run of the campaign.
Tommy's Oscar (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) In touch towards rear, headway after 9th, in behind leaders after last (usual 4 out), ridden along bypassing usual 2 out, ran on until no extra final 110yds, 4th of 11, 6 1/2l behind Jetoile (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Oct.
Langer Dan (IRE) 40-1 (12-0) Towards rear, cajoled along halfway, lost touch quickly and pulled up after 3 out, at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Too Friendly 33-1 (12-0) Towards rear of mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4 out, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before the last, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Gin Coco (FR) 11-8fav (11-8) Midfield, ridden and headway between rivals 2 out where pressed leader, soon led, a length ahead approaching last, stayed on well run-in, won at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov beating Faivoir (11-12) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Rare Edition (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, dist behind Inthepocket (11-7) at Aintree 2m (1) gs in Apr.
Soaring Glory (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Close up, ridden omitted 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd run in, 2nd of 7, 5 1/2l behind Clear White Light (11-1) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Nayati (FR) 22-1 (12-0) In rear, in touch, kept on run-in, never on terms, 5th of 7, 8 3/4l behind Moveit Like Minnie (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Clear White Light 13-2 (11-1) In touch, pushed along and outpaced omitted 3 out, headway to lead at last, ridden and ran on(all hurdles omitted in straight), won at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec beating Soaring Glory (12-0) by 5 1/2l, 7 ran.
First Impression (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened from over 1f out, last of 7, 21l behind Chriszoff (9-7) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (3) gs in Sep.
Geromino (FR) 9-4fav (12-1) Chased leaders, bad mistake and unseated rider 3rd, at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Glorious Zoff (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Held up off the pace in 3rd, bit closer after 2nd, pushed along and readily outpaced before 2 out, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Rubaud (11-8) at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) gs in Nov.
Matchless (IRE) 15-8fav (11-6) Tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching omitted last, soon joined, headed final strides, 2nd of 6, shd behind Peking Rose (12-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
