tended to jump left, led, hit 8th, not fluent 3 out, soon hard pressed, ridden between last 2, headed when not fluent again last, one pace flat
chased front pair throughout, outpaced 4 out, soon beaten, no chance after
tracked leader, challenged after 3 out, led approaching last, ridden out flat, kept on
held up in rear, lost touch from 5 out, never invloved
MR WHIPPED may well have justified favouritism against three previous winners at Cheltenham had he not met the last all wrong. The fifth has already franked the form of that race and Nicky Henderson’s novice can recoup losses here getting 5lb from Sandown winner Springtown Lake. Treshnish has run much better than the final results suggest in two races at Carlisle but Knockrobin looks held by the selection on collateral form.
Springtown Lake (IRE) 11-4fav (11-13) Made all, not fluent 7th, hard pressed from 2 out, edged right towards and in command towards finish, very game, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Lithic (10-10) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Knockrobin (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, left in 2nd approaching 10th, every chance 3 out, jumped left last, no extra closing stages, 3rd of 13, 4 3/4l behind Count Meribel (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Mr Whipped (IRE) 15-8fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, driven and outpaced by front pair after 3 out, not fluent last, ridden and hung left flat, kept on, not quite reach front pair, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Count Meribel (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Nov.
Treshnish (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, lost place approaching and slow 4th, rallied 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 6, 13 1/2l behind Highway One O One (11-2) at Carlisle 2m (2) sft in Nov.
