raced in rear, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, ran on flat, never reached winner
mid-division, headway 4th, soon chasing leaders, outpaced 3 out, stayed on approaching last, never able to challenge
towards rear, headway 4th, soon chasing leaders, weakened last
raced keenly in touch, lost place after 3rd, soon behind, blundered 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, ridden and weakened 3 out
mid-division, headway after 4 out, led 2 out, hit last, stayed on well
pulled hard in rear, tailed off when pulled up and dismounted approaching last
chased leaders, under pressure 3 out, soon weakened
led, hit and headed 2 out, weakened last
in touch, tracked leaders 3rd, lost place 6th, soon beaten
behind, mistake 1st, headway on wide outside 4th, soon chasing leaders, lost place after next, hampered 6th, behind when pulled up 3 out
This is easily the weaker of the two divisions of this maiden hurdle but it's still difficult to fancy points winner Nosecond Chance after a couple of uninspiring efforts under Rules. Ultimate Quest won over 2m1f at Pontefract for Sir Mark Prescott so should stay further than this, though has run poorly since finishing second over 2m at Ludlow. Mangham was a miler on the level but RUMBLE OF THUNDER had a higher rating and made the frame in more than half of his races on the Flat. It would be no surprise if he were good enough to land this on his hurdling bow.
All For Free (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Tracked leading pair, jumped right 5th, lost place after 4 out, disputed 5th when blundered and unseated rider next, in a race won by Pret A Thou (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov, 7 ran.
Deputy Dog (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Mid-division, bumped 1st, in rear when mistake 4th, hampered next, tailed off, 8th of 16, well behind Upthemsteps (10-12) at Towcester 2m NH mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Erin Dancer (IRE) 28-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, always behind, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Priceless Art (11-0) at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Mangham (IRE) 20-1 (8-13) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 24l behind El Dececy (9-5) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec (flat).
Mister Fantastic 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders and keen, jumped slow 1st, soon settled in touch, pushed along after 3 out, no impression, 5th of 7, 12l behind Union Island (10-12) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Nosecond Chance (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 16, 23l behind Upthemsteps (10-12) at Towcester 2m NH mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Rumble Of Thunder (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Led until over 2f out, handy until weakened over 1f out, 7th of 13, 8l behind Dubai Crest (9-8) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep (flat).
Ultimate Quest (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 8th, chased leaders and mistake 4 out, weakened before next, 7th of 12, 37l behind Time For Spring (10-12) at Ascot 2m 6f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Uncle Ant (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) In rear, mistake 1st, behind 5th, tailed off, 14th of 16, well behind Gibb River (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Farmers Glory 11-1 (8-8) In touch, raced stand side from over 4f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 11th of 12, 37l behind Light The City (7-11) at Haydock 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Jul (flat).
Ericaceous 100-1 (8-9) Mid-division, pushed along halfway, ridden and weakened 3f out, tailed off, eased, last of 12, well behind Sharedah (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo fll stks (5) gf in Jun (flat).
