in touch in mid-division, slow 4th and pushed along briefly, closed before 6th, 4th and weakening when fell last
2nd early, tracked leaders, jumped right 2nd, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, lost place before 2nd, headway on outside 5th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
led, not fluent 1st, headed next, struggling 5th, behind next, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, headway approaching 3 out, 3rd when not fluent 2 out, no extra flat
held up in mid-division, headway 5th, switched right before 3 out, led before 2 out, ran on well flat, readily
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, every chance 2 out, held flat, stayed on
prominent, led 2nd, headed before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, not much room 2nd, led before 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakening when hampered last
An understandably hot contest for a Grade 2 affair and much will depend upon the respective improvement rates of some promising types. KAMSINAS receives the vote as the level of his runner-up effort in a Cheltenham Grade 2 last month behind Lookaway received a powerful boost when the latter ran a fine second in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday. Fergal O‘Brien‘s charge should go close if repeating that latest effort and is just preferred to Bowenspark. Henry Daly‘s gelding enjoyed an excellent bumper campaign last term and made a pleasing hurdling debut when an easy Stratford scorer. He steps up significantly in grade but looks to be on an upward curve. Recent winners Primoz and Making Headway are of interest too along with Forcing Bull.
Bowenspark (IRE) 4-9fav (11-0) Prominent, led narrowly 3 out, eased clear home turn, soon well ahead, coasted home comfortably, won at Stratford 2m (3) sft in Nov beating Macanogue (11-6) by 11l, 9 ran.
Bullets Hill (IRE) 22-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 4th of 6, dist behind Choccabloc (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f (2) gs in Nov.
Flash Du Pistolet (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Led, ridden and hard pressed last when brought wide, stayed on well flat, headed on line, 2nd of 10, shd behind Coniston George (11-4) at Kelso 2m mdn (4) sft in Oct.
Forcing Bull (FR) 18-1 (11-10) Led until after 1st, prominent, not fluent 5th, weakened after next, tailed off, 14th of 15, dist behind Afadil (11-1) at Ayr 2m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
I Love My Baie (FR) 9-1 (11-6) Midfield, chased leaders 2 out, went second approaching last, kept on but no match for winner, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Primoz (11-0) at Ayr 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Kamsinas (FR) 7-1 (11-2) Held up in midfield, slightly squeezed before 2 out, soon ridden, stayed into 3rd approaching last, kept on into 2nd close home but no match for winner near finish, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Lookaway (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Oct.
Making Headway (IRE) 13-8fav (11-0) Raced in third, left in second after 4th, travelling strongly before slight mistake 2 out, switched left when led before untidy jump at final flight, pushed along run-in, faced challenge final strides, always doing enough, won at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) hvy in Oct beating To Chase A Dream (10-13) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Primoz (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Made all, jumped well, shaken up and quickened tempo before 2 out, good jump last, won going away, won at Ayr 2m (4) gs in Nov beating I Love My Baie (11-6) by 5l, 9 ran.
Rich Spirit 50-1 (11-4) Held up in behind leaders, close up after last (usual 3 out), led rounding home turn, headed after bypassing usual last, ran on, 3rd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Inthewaterside (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f mdn (3) gs in Oct.
