held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 2nd close home
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, one pace inside final furlong
held up in rear, switched right over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on
tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden and lost place over 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, headway, switched slightly left and not much room over 2f out, led 1f out, ran on well
held up in mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression
mid-division, weakened over 3f out
always towards rear
always prominent, ridden over 2f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, lost 2nd close home
held up towards rear, never in contention
prominent, ridden over 3f out, ridden and losing place when not much room over 2f out
always towards rear
led, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
BARWELL BRIDGE and Clerk's Choice look to have the strongest credentials in this. The latter was placed twice on an artificial surface in his Flat career and, as well as winning four times over timber, was sixth in last year's Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. But the vote goes to the former who won over 1m2f on this track in 2009 and has been in good form over hurdles lately, albeit over further. Woolfall Treasure will ensure there's a good pace and is capable of making the frame but Pause And Clause and Secret World have a bit to prove at present and it's almost three years since Secret Tune was in the winner's enclosure, though he did run well when third at Cheltenham in October. Tuscan Gold has been a little disappointing over hurdles but goes well on the Polytrack and he's worth considering here on that fact alone. 4.55
Ascendant 33-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Big Easy (10-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan, 9 ran.
Barwell Bridge 10-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway after 3 out, went 3rd last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 16, 6l behind Thehillofuisneach (10-11) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Clerk's Choice (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Held up in 4th, outpaced after 3 out, no chance with leaders when blundered next, 4th of 5, 33l behind Binocular (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Dec.
Dalhaan (USA) 100-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, 35l behind Financial Climate (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Pause And Clause (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Led after 1st, headed 3rd, left in lead after 6th, headed next, ridden before 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 10, 39l behind Bellflower Boy (10-13) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Secret Tune 9-2fav (10-12) Mid-division on outside, headway from 4th, challenged 3 out, every chance flat, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Ixora (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gf in Oct.
Secret World (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, never in contention, tailed off 3 out, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Celestial Halo (11-12) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
The Winged Assasin (USA) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 9, 17l behind Kambis (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Tuscan Gold 15-8 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out, mistake last, 5th of 9, 21l behind Kazlian (11-0) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Well Refreshed 13-2 (11-5) Held up, fell 1st, in a race won by Not So Sure Dick (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Oct, 11 ran.
Westlin' Winds (IRE) 1-2fav (11-9) Chased leadrs, ridden to lead before 2 out, driven 2 lengths ahead last, no extra and headed last strides, 2nd of 8, nk behind American Cricket (11-9) at Leicester 2m 4f sell hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Woolfall Treasure 25-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 17, 20l behind Knight Pass (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Zanir (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Behind, headway 3 out, outpaced next, no impression, 9th of 19, 33l behind Swincombe Flame (10-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Jan.
Free Falling 10-1 (11-6) Raced wide, jumped right, headed, approaching 8th, weakened quickly from next, tailed off, 7th of 12, 40l behind Psi (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Morar 12-1 (10-11) Chased clear leading pair until before 5th, ridden and weakened before next, behind when blundered badly and nearly unseated rider 2 out, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Poole Master (11-7) at Lingfield 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Zennor 5-1 (10-5) Led until after 2nd, led again 4th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened after next, 4th of 14, 16l behind Trip The Light (10-12) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
