tracked leaders, led before 5th, headed 3 out, outpaced when switched left approaching next, no extra when left 3rd last, no chance with leading pair flat
took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened quickly before 3 out, soon pulled up
held up in rear, headway and in touch on outside after 4th, led 3 out, ridden between last 2, 1 length clear when fell last
held up towards rear, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous, tailed off
led, hung badly left and wide on bend after 4th, soon headed, pulled up before next
tracked leaders on inside, effort approaching 2 out, every chance when left 2nd last, ridden and kept on flat
tracked leader, mistake 3rd, lost place when not fluent 5th, blundered 7th, soon outpaced, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway into mid-division 5th, close up 3 out, outpaced before next, ridden and stayed on to chase leader when left in lead last, held on flat
mid-division, headway and in touch 5th, lost place after 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression when left 4th last
mid-division, badly hampered 7th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
HIT THE HEADLINES looked a novice to follow after scoring easily on his hurdling debut at Huntingdon. He has to concede weight all round here but may well be up to the task though Captain Sunshine made the well-backed Black Thunder pull out all the stops at Taunton last month and would go close with a similar effort in this. King's Sunset and No Substitute are both capable of improving on their comeback runs, while winning pointer The Druids Nephew was third on his debut under Rules at Ascot though may need a stiffer test than this.
Hit The Headlines (IRE) 5-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, led before 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on under pressure flat, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Florafern (10-5) by 1l, 16 ran.
Big Guns (IRE) 66-1 (10-13) Mistake and rider lost iron 1st, recovered and tracked clear leader next until jumped right and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Buck Mulligan (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan '11, 11 ran.
Captain Sunshine 6-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway and in touch on wide outside after 5th, challenged and every chance 2 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure to chase winner final 50 yards, just held, 2nd of 13, nk behind Black Thunder (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Forresters Folly 40-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 30l behind Nelson's Bridge (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Dec.
King's Sunset (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Mid-division, not always fluent, headway 8th, mistake 3 out, hit 2 out and weakened, modest 3rd thereafter, 3rd of 13, 32l behind Miss Kalifa (10-5) at Ffos Las 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
No Substitute (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway approaching 9th, ridden before last, no extra towards finish, 5th of 17, 5l behind Themilanhorse (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Silky Bob (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders in 3rd,pushed along over 5f out, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, 44l behind Gevrey Chambertin (10-7) at Ffos Las 2m mdn nat hunt flat (6) hvy in Dec.
The Druids Nephew (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, held up in rear, looked struggling before 6th, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on to 3rd last, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 13, 11l behind Hadrian's Approach (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f NH mdn hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Voltigger Hill (GER) 9-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, weakened 3 out, 11th of 14, well behind Mister Dillon (10-5) at Lingfield 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Nov.
Who Owns Me (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, struggling halfway, 7th of 15, well behind Ballyrock (11-0) at Hereford 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec.
