tracked leader, led after 3 out, clear before last, easily
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3 out pushed along before next, lost 2nd before last, weakened run-in
jumped poorly in rear, jumped slowly and pushed along 4th, mistake 5th, tailed off when mistake 8th, pulled up after 3 out
held up, steady headway chasing leaders 3 out, went 2nd before last, stayed on same pace no chance with winner
raced keenly in last pair, behind most of way, plugged on, tailed off
tracked leaders on inside, hit 6th, weakened 4 out, tailed off after next
chased leaders on outside, pushed along when awkward 2 out, outpaced between last 2, plugged on run-in, went 3rd towards finish
chased leaders on inside, weakening when mistake 3 out, tailed off
led until after 3 out, soon lost 2nd and weakened quickly, tailed off
NonRunner
Fedelta was found to have an irregular heartbeat after pulling up at Ludlow so is best watched for now. It Sure Is was last seen over fences and his long-term future may lie over the larger obstacles as he’s proving hard to place over timber. The Domino Effect should be thereabouts again, however, while Undersupervision made a winning start under Rules at Hereford, though the first four finished in a heap that day. Barbados Buck's has won twice at Southwell but BOBHOPEORNOHOPE is preferred. Kim Bailey’s gelding has won over 3m between the flags and looked ready for a longer trip when following up an Exeter victory at Doncaster in November.
Barbados Buck's (IRE) 4-7fav (11-5) Chased leaders, niggled along and headway before 9th, prominent before 2 out, soon led, ridden on approach to last, briefly headed, battled back flat and led closing stages, gamely, won at Southwell 3m (4) gs in Dec beating Fantastikas (10-12) by nk, 10 ran.
Undersupervision (IRE) 13-8jfav (10-12) Tracked leader, led 5 out, ridden and asserted flat, won at Hereford 3m 2f (4) hvy in Dec beating Everything Now (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Ezzrah 50-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 11, 5 1/4l behind Highway One (9-5) at Lingfield 2m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Fedelta (IRE) 7-4fav (10-12) Tracked leader, pushed along and outpaced on the run to 3 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Ludlow 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov.
Gallow Ford (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Mid-division, pushed along and no impression 2 out, 5th of 14, 14 3/4l behind Sizable Sam (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
It Sure Is (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Chased leaders pushed along 10th, outpaced and beaten before 4 out, left remote 3rd at the last, 3rd of 5, 30l behind Kalooki (11-5) at Newbury 2m 6f (3) gd in Nov.
Slipway (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out until mistake 2 out, soon 4th and well held, 4th of 6, 22 1/2l behind Wilde About Oscar (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (4) gs in Nov.
The Domino Effect (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Ran in snatches, chased leaders, lost place before 4 out, rallied on outside into 2nd before 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Supakalanistic (11-9) at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Welsh's Castle (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Prominent, tracked leaders 3 out, led 4 out, pressed on either side 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, headed last, rallied after the last and kept on but always held, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Tupelo Mississippi (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn (4) hvy in Dec.
Bobhopeornohope (IRE) Evensfav (11-5) Led, shaken up before 3 out to extend lead, not fluent last and almost headed, ran on under pressure final 110 yards, just held on, won at Doncaster 2m 5f (4) gd in Nov beating Santon (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
