tracked leaders, led after 3rd, hit 5th and headed, weakened very quickly after 4 out, pulled up
chased leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, hit 2 out, pushed along and went clear with winner from 2 out, ridden and no telling impression run-in
towards rear, pushed along 3 out, ridden and beaten 2 out
soon led, headed after 3rd and remained handy, led again 5th, hit 4 out, went clear with runner-up 2 out, stayed on well, ridden run-in, readily
mid-division, pushed along in 3rd 3 out, ridden and outpaced 2 out, plugged on
in rear, pushed along home turn, ridden and kept on from before last, never threatened
prominent, ridden and no progress after 2 out, soon beaten
towards rear, not fluent 2nd, always behind
Moonlight Spirit was a Group 3 winner on the Flat and made a winning start over hurdles at Carlisle last December. Nemean Lion was a debut winner more recently at Hereford and collateral form probably gives him the beating of Sedgefield scorer Spirit Of Regulus but that trio are giving 7lb to some potentially-promising novices. Lookaway, a Grade 2 bumper winner, led for a long way over 2m5f at Warwick but didn’t appear to last home. The drop back to 2m should help but HULLNBACK will have learned plenty from his second behind the 125-rated Pikar at Chepstow and can go one better today as Twinjets never looked like landing the odds at Cheltenham, though was hampered in the closing stages.
Moonlight Spirit (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, awkward 4th, soon went prominent, led before 2 out going well, pushed out after last, ran on well, readily, won at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec beating Fabuleux Du Clos (10-12) by 3l, 11 ran.
Nemean Lion (GER) 14-1 (11-4) Chased leader, led approaching 2 out when blundered, went clear approaching last, eased down flat, won at Hereford 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov beating Light Em Up Nigel (11-4) by 9 1/2l, 14 ran.
Spirit Of Regulus (IRE) 7-4 (11-3) Mid-division, went 4th home turn, ridden after 2 out, stayed on strongly run-in and led 75 yards out, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Oct beating Light Em Up Nigel (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Hullnback 6-4fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway tracking leaders after 4th, went 2nd before 3 out, until hung left between last two, hung left and looked to run out at the last, plugged on into 2nd close home, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 5l behind Pikar (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (4) gs in Oct.
Lookaway (IRE) 10-11fav (11-0) Took keen hold, led, ridden and headed before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 18l behind Ginny's Destiny (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f (4) sft in Nov.
Riskintheground (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Keen mistake 1st towards rear, ridden 3 out, never near leaders, 5th of 13, 29 1/2l behind Kellahen (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (3) sft in Nov.
Snowy Evening (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, not always fluent, closed 2 out, 4th and no impression last, no extra flat, 4th of 7, 12 1/4l behind Man At Work (10-13) at Aintree 2m 4f (3) gs in Nov.
Thunderclap (IRE) 22-1 (9-12) Raced wide, close up, headway over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Poker Face (9-12) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Twinjets (IRE) 10-11fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway when hampered and lost place 3 out, closed last, no impression, weakened flat, 6th of 11, 19 1/4l behind Fennor Cross (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m mdn (3) gd in Oct.
