jumped right and not fluent, prominent, led after 2nd, mistake next, driven out flat
raced wide, led until after 2nd, stayed handy, weakening when mistake last
held up in mid-division, closed 4th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, not fluent 4 out, weakened before next
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, one pace after next, 5th and no impression last
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway after 2 out, 4th from last, never dangerous
chased leaders, driven in 2nd after 2 out, held flat, stayed on
held up in rear and wide, well beaten 3 out
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, 3rd before last, stayed on same pace flat
always behind
held up in rear on outside, closed 4th, one pace after 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, closed 4th, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last
towards rear, well beaten 3 out
always towards rear
held up in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, some headway after 4 out, weakened after next, eased
Nonrunner
Keel Haul has only run once over hurdles in the last two years but competes from 13lb lower than his chase rating and the booking of Richard Johnson is interesting. Bobble Emerald is looking to pick up the winning thread again having been foiled in his hat-trick bid at Cheltenham but Peruvien Bleu has been raised a further 4lb since his fourth at Uttoxeter. Orchard Park should be winning soon and likewise Stage One but MATCHAWAY wasn’t beaten far off this mark here before Christmas and first-time blinkers could help the top weight find the necessary to come home in front today.
Matchaway (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Prominent, jumped right 4th, driven before 2 out, 4th last, held by leaders, kept on, 4th of 9, 1 1/2l behind Stamp Your Feet (10-5) at Hereford 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Bobble Emerald (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Led until before 2nd, prominent, hit 3rd, led 5th, headed and edged left flat, lost 2nd final 75 yards, no extra, 3rd of 13, 8l behind Kapstadt (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Peruvien Bleu (FR) 11-8fav (11-8) Detached in last, headway on outside when stumbled 3 out, no impression on leaders before last, 4th of 9, 10 1/4l behind Applesandpierres (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Conteur d'Histoire (FR) 11-2 (11-0) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out, weakened soon after, 6th of 12, 29 1/4l behind Sandymount (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in Dec.
Keel Haul (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Mid-division, outpaced before 10th, well beaten 3 out, 6th of 11, 16 3/4l behind Eastlake (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Key To The West (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, outpaced from 4 out, never dangerous, 5th of 8, 25 1/4l behind Limited Reserve (10-1) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Orchard Park (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Led, ridden before 2 out, headed after last, soon edged right run-in, kept on, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Charlemar (11-5) at Chepstow 2m mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Aengus (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Held up, in rear, modest 7th after 4 out, weakened before next, 8th of 10, dist behind Cooking Fat (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Stage One (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) In rear, ridden 3 out, headway next, stayed on flat, 3rd of 8, 9 1/2l behind Furiously Fast (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Dragon Khan (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Held up early, mid-division halfway, ridden and no impression entering straight, kept on one pace, 10th of 18, 12 1/2l behind Orchard Road (11-4) at Clonmel 2m hcp gd in Oct.
Sword of The Lord 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division, mistake 8th, weakening when mistake next, 6th of 10, 24 1/2l behind Doitforthevillage (11-5) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Rafafie 9-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up and behind, lost touch before 10th, tailed off and pulled up soon after, at Stratford 3m 2f hcp (4) gf in May.
Jolly Roger (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Held up, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten next, 10th of 14, 26 3/4l behind Minellaforleisure (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Distant High 100-1 (11-4) Always behind, 12th of 14, dist behind Theatre Territory (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Global Thrill 16-1 (10-0) Mid-division, pushed along before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 32l behind Hint Of Mint (11-10) at Taunton 2m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Kublai (FR) 80-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 4th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up after 3 out, at Bangor 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
