mistake 1st, always in rear, weakened 3 out
keen tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace and lost 3rd flat
close up, outpaced 5 out, pushed along 4 out, ridden and rallied approaching last, stayed on to go 3rd towards finish
in touch, not fluent 7th, headway to tracked leaders next, pushed along 3 out, weakened next
made all, soon 5 lengths clear, increased lead 4th, reduced lead 8th, pushed along and joined 2 out, good jump next, ridden and ran on gamely
tracked winner, ridden 2 join winner 2 out, stayed on one pace flat
ABAYA DU MATHAN (NAP), eight-times a winner over fences, has been raised 3lb for last week's short-head defeat at Hereford but can race off his old mark and can go in again. Jobesgreen Lad was in double-winning form around this time a year ago but had needed his comeback run and hasn't been seen since March. Hardy Boy didn't run well over hurdles last time and is better over fences on good ground. Winning hurdler Big Blue Moon makes his debut over fences but Passing Reflection is likely to be better for last month's debut over the bigger obstacles at Ludlow.
Jobesgreen Lad 9-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, not fluent 11th, mistake 14th, pushed along before 4 out, lost touch 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, 4th of 6, 23l behind Latitude (11-8) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Tommy Cullen (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Jumped left at times, led until not fluent 7th, not fluent 10th, lost 2nd before mistake 2 out, weakened quickly, last of 7, dist behind Whodini (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Hardy Boy (FR) 11-2 (11-9) Not always fluent in rear, reminder 2nd, some headway before 3 out, no impression, well beaten 2 out, 4th of 8, 20l behind Hungry Hill (11-9) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Passing Reflection 11-2 (11-3) Not always fluent in rear, headway 13th, no impression 4 out, plugged on from 2 out, 4th of 8, 15l behind La Renommee (11-12) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Cartonne (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Led, joined before 4th, headed before 5 out, weakened before ridden before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Carlisle 2m hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Abaya Du Mathan (FR) 11-1 (11-5) Pressed leader, disputed lead 2 out, sustained duel with winner thereafter, ridden run-in and kept on well, denied on nod, 2nd of 10, shd behind Extraordinary Man (11-6) at Hereford 2m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Big Blue Moon 8-11fav (12-5) Held up in touch, lost place before 2nd, closed when not fluent 3rd, 3rd and ridden when mistake 2 out, went 2nd before last, held flat, kept on, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Ring The Moon (10-13) at Chepstow 2m hcp (5) sft in Mar.
