in touch in 4th, left 3rd from 5th, went 2nd before and not fluent 4 out, kept on and always held by winner from 2 out
made all, ridden and clear before last, kept on well
tracked leaders in 3rd, fell 5th
behind, mistake 1st, left poor 4th from 5th went 3rd before 3 out until after last, never dangerous
tracked winner, ridden before 4 out, quickly weakened 4 out, pulled up before last
in rear and detached, hampered 5th, stayed on strongly before last, went 3rd soon after, nearest at finish
Third Intention beat Mwaleshi by 17 lengths over 2m here in November. He has been beaten twice since but does have placed form over longer trips in Grade 1 company and the highest rating of these. CARRAIG MOR was a decent novice hurdler last season but always looked the type to do better over fences. He won a Grade 2 at Newbury in November but then blotted his copybook when unseating his rider in a Grade 1 at Kempton on Boxing Day when leading. If he settles better here, he could be the one to beat at the weights. Maggio, Wings Of Smoke and Little Glenshee all have a bit to find on the form book.
Maggio (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, moderate 4th and mistake 4 out, no impression next, left 3rd last (poor visibility), 3rd of 8, 18l behind Home Farm (11-0) at Thurles 2m 6f lst chs (1) sft in Nov.
Mwaleshi 13-2 (11-7) Led, jumped mainly right, headed 3 out, one pace and soon beaten, 2nd of 4, 17l behind Third Intention (11-7) at Haydock 2m grad ch (2) sft in Nov.
Third Intention (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Jumped left, chased (clear) winner, stumbled 3rd, lost 2nd 6th, chased leaders in 3rd but never near winner, dropped to 4th briefly before 3 out, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 5, 22l behind Special Tiara (11-0) at Kempton 2m Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec.
Wings Of Smoke (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway into 4th before 4 out, plugged on but never going pace to get competitive, 4th of 8, 25l behind Ballinvarrig (10-9) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec.
Carraig Mor (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, led 5th until blundered and unseated rider 8th, in a race won by Coneygree (11-7) at Kempton 3m nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Little Glenshee (IRE) 11-1 (10-5) Towards rear, headway before 4 out, chased winner from last, kept on and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Diocles (10-8) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec.
