towards rear most of way until some late minor headway
chased leader, pushed along and lost 2nd 2f out, chased leaders, weakened well over 1f out
mid-division, rapid headway on outside chasing leaders after 5f, went 2nd briefly 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders 2f out, stayed on towards finish, not pace to challenge
raced keenly in last pair, never involved, tailed off
pulled hard in mid-division on inside, good headway chasing leaders 2f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, headed and not quicken final 100 yards
led and set steady pace, quickened 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, ran on to lead final 100 yards
raced keenly chasing leaders on inside, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, pressed leaders inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, no impression final furlong
behind, some late minor headway
wide in mid-division, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, ran on
LOUGHAN has made the frame in four of his five hurdles starts to date and a first victory under Rules can’t be far away. Roque It, a bumper winner in 2019 when trained by Olly Murphy, didn’t do a lot wrong in two runs over hurdles at the end of last year and looks a threat and Royal Pretender is another to have shown promise. Scarpia has been slow to come to hand but can’t be ignored in a race like this while the four-year-old has Flat speed on his side and has placed here in the past and won on Fibresand.
Ace Time 50-1 (11-4) Towards rear, closer in mid-division 8f out, headway chasing leaders over 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out until home turn, soon ridden, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Lucky's Dream (11-4) at Lingfield 2m (4) pol in Jan.
Dapa Lad (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Towards rear, not fluent 4th, last and struggling 9th, well behind 11th, soon pulled up, at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Feb.
Daranova (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Led early, tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, lost place over 2f out, last of 9, 26 1/4l behind Busy Street (11-5) at Newcastle 2m (4) pol in Jan.
Forever Des Long (FR) 11-5 (11-0) Held up towards rear, not always fluent, headway approaching 2 out, ridden and weakened well before last, 8th of 11, 30 1/2l behind Scene Not Herd (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Loughan (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Led and raced keenly, , went clear after 2nd, reduced lead and hit 3 out, headed 2 out, soon hung badly left, lost 2nd run-in, no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Gericault Roque (11-5) at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Quiana 16-1 (10-12) Midfield, headway to chase leaders 5th, ridden along before 2 out, jumped left last, kept on one pace flat, 4th of 12, 26l behind Smurphy Enki (10-12) at Plumpton 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Roque It (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Prominent, headway into second 2 out, ran on well after last but always held, 2nd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Sizable Sam (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Royal Pretender (FR) 11-10fav (11-6) Chased leaders, awkward 6th, pushed along after 4 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 16, 29 1/2l behind The Golden Rebel (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 5f mdn (5) gs in Jan.
Scarpia (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, plenty to do next, tenderly handled and kept run-on never nearer, 4th of 16, 31l behind The Golden Rebel (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 5f mdn (5) gs in Jan.
Volunteer 15-2 (11-4) Held up rear of mid-division, struggling on outside over 5f out, well beaten final 4f, last of 12, dist behind Good Bye (11-4) at Lingfield 2m (5) pol in Feb.
Just Once 66-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, weakened well before next, 6th of 14, 18 1/2l behind Sopat (10-12) at Fakenham 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Iron Heart 6-4fav (10-12) Tracked leader, niggled along and outpaced home turn, soon ridden and closer 2 out, held in 3rd after the last, 3rd of 13, 11 1/4l behind Wightman (10-12) at Taunton 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
