led, hit 3rd, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened well before 2 out, soon behind, tailed off
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4th, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened and no chance with leading duo between last 2
took keen hold, held up in touch on inside, headway from 4 out, to chase leaders 3 out, weakened before 2 out
soon steadied in touch in 5th, good headway to 2nd after 3 out, led before 2 out, narrowly headed 2 out, stayed pressing winner, bumped and pushed right before last, still every chance last, no extra flat
took keen hold, held up last, mistake 4 out, ridden in 5th after 3 out, weakened before next
took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 3rd before 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led narrowly and hit 2 out, strongly pressed when ridden and edged right before last, stayed on well and in command flat
took keen hold, tracked leader, dived at 2nd, lost 2nd 4th, mistake 4 out, ridden and weakened before next, tailed off
Newcomer Lemon Drop Red would have been more interesting here had he not run unaccountably poorly on his final start on the level in October. Newbury third Kambis appears to be improving with experience while the former Mark Johnston inmate Stagecoach Danman was third on his hurdles bow at Wincanton. Malanos is proving better over timber than he was on the Flat but we're going to give another chance to RANJAAN, who was an early faller in the race in which Kie finished third at Doncaster earlier this month. He'd finished second on his hurdling debut at Newbury, however, so clearly has ability and gets 10lb from Donald McCain's consistent novice here.
Kie (IRE) 13-8fav (11-2) Led, ridden and headed last, weakened run-in, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Royal Bonsai (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) gs.
Malanos (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Held up, took keen hold, hampered 1st, headway after 2nd, went 2nd 4th until next, hanging right from before 2 out, not much room and switched left after 2 out, switched left and still hanging right after last, went 2nd close home, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Rasam Aldaar (10-9) at Sandown 2m 3yo hdl (4) gs.
Kambis 25-1 (10-7) In touch in mid-division, took keen hold, headway 2nd, not fluent 5th, went 3rd when jumping left 2 out, well held by front pair last, 3rd of 10, 18l behind Ardlui (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft.
Lemon Drop Red (USA) 3-1fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, led over 6f out, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 12, 26l behind Jasmeno (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct (flat).
Montegonian (USA) 6-1 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 13, 18l behind Signora Frasi (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov (flat).
Ranjaan (FR) 7-4 (10-12) Held up mid-division, fell 2nd, in a race won by Royal Bonsai (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) gs, 7 ran.
Stagecoach Danman (IRE) 2-1 (10-9) Chased leader until before 2nd, stayed in 3rd, lost 3rd 2 out, went modest 3rd again before last, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Educated Son (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 3yo hdl (4) gs.
