always prominent, ridden and every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace
towards rear, headway 6th, ridden after 9th, weakened next
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next
prominent, led after 9th, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 7th, behind when hampered 9th
keen, in touch, headway 7th, ridden and mistake 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, lost place 8th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
mid-division, headway 7th, ridden 9th, soon weakened
behind, headway 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway 6th, led and hit 2 out, ridden and edged left flat, stayed on well
not fluent, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
keen, mid-division, mistake 2nd, weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led, ridden and headed after 9th, weakened next
always prominent, fell 9th
keen, towards rear, headway 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
Iris's Gift Inching Closer and Ar Muin Na Muice look the three to concentrate on in the opener and the confident vote goes to Iris's Gift. The 7-year-old from the Jonjo 'Neill yard was the only one to give Barracouda a race at Cheltenham last season and although she has a 316 day absence to overcome, if she is fit she should score before heading to the Cheltenham festival. Inching Closer won a listed hurdle at Aintree when last seen in this sphere, but he has not progressed as expected over fences, and it will be interesting to see how he gets on now that he returns to hurdles. Ar Muin Na Muice is another that has been trying her hand at chasing with little success but she reverts back to hurdles and would have definite place claims but will have to improve significantly to beat her stable companion. The remainder are well out the handicap and will need to improve to defeat our selection Iris's Gift.
