held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders after next, never able to challenge
pulled hard tracking leaders, mistake 3 out, led next, edged left and idled closing stages, kept on
always behind, weakened 4 out, eased next
behind, headway approaching 3 out, shaken up to chase leaders next, ran on, nearest finish
tracked leader, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
pulled hard in rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, stayed on approaching last, never dangerous
mid-division, weakened 3 out
mid-division, lost place approaching 3 out
led, not fluent 1st, soon 5 lengthes clear, headed 2 out, rallied after last, ran on
Karazhan won a couple of bumpers and a novice hurdle last season but appears to have plenty of weight for what he's achieved and Barry Geraghty prefers the mare Springinherstep, even though she was disappointing when favourite at Taunton last month. Prompter is hard to win with but was only beaten a length in this grade at Wincanton last week and is sure to be thereabouts again. There may be improvement forthcoming from Roberto Pegasus this season but Fergall hasn't raced since winning a maiden hurdle at Newton Abbot in May and looks high enough in the weights. Paul Nicholls wouldn't be running the three-year-old KELTUS in this without good reason. He's got plenty of experience and can take advantage of his weight-for-age allowance.
Karazhan 8-11fav (11-4) Towards rear, headway over 3f out, led over 1f out, kept on well, won at Wolverhampton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan beating Sin Bin (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Fergall (IRE) 5-2 (10-11) Made all, clear until before 2 out, held on well, won at Newton Abbot 2m 3f NH mdn hdl (4) gf in May beating Vibrato Valtat (10-9) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Chat Room 7-2fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, 3rd and ridden 2 out, 4th and beaten when blunderd last, weakened flat, 10th of 13, 18l behind Hawkhill (11-7) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov.
Prompter 6-1 (11-9) Took keen hold early, patiently ridden and held up in last pair, smooth headway after 3 out, went 2nd next, upsides last, every chance until outbattled final 75 yards, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Jumps Road (11-11) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Grams And Ounces 16-1 (11-3) In rear, reminder after 5th, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Claret Cloak (11-12) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Springinherstep (IRE) 11-10fav (11-12) Took keen hold and held up in rear, good headway approaching 7th, went 3rd and hit 3 out, went 2nd after 3 out, hanging right approaching 2 out, lost 2nd 2 out, 3rd and held when mistake last, 5th of 7, 8l behind Weather Babe (10-13) at Taunton 2m 3f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
Halifax (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden after 7th, 8th before 2 out, no impression on leaders, 6th of 12, 24l behind Carrigmorna King (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Roberto Pegasus (USA) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division in touch, tracked leaders 3 out, ridden and effort before last, no impression flat, 6th of 19, 12l behind Quick Jack (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Taaresh (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Held up in last pair, steady headway after 3 out to chase leaders 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 9, 8l behind Ranjaan (11-9) at Kempton 2m cond hcp hdl (0-130) (3) gd in Nov.
Keltus (FR) 5-1 (11-4) With winner, ridden before 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 7, 21l behind Royal Irish Hussar (11-6) at Wetherby 2m Listed hdl 3yo (1) gs in Nov.