made all, not fluent 5th, edged left approaching 3 out, soon pushed along, stayed on dourly, strongly challenged closing stages, just held on
chased leaders, slow jump 7th, steadily lost touch after 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5th, ridden and dropped to close 4th after 4 out, kept on same pace, rallied run-in but held towards finish
prominent, not fluent 7th and lost position, headway home turn and went 2nd jumping 4 out, hampered by leader approaching and jumping 3 out, soon pushed along and no impression, ridden run-in and rallied closing stages, just held
close up in rear, went 3rd at 7th, ridden and every chance before last, kept on same pace
Regal Blue beat Mylesfromwicklow in a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las at the start of the year and is only a pound worse off. The latter won over fences at the first time of asking at Ludlow, however, and his stable also run recent acquisition Firak, who won a couple of hunter chases last season. Ubetya has won twice over fences but looks the most exposed of these. THE EDGAR WALLACE was back to his best when jumping well and staying on strongly at Wetherby and he may take some pegging back here if in the same mood.
The Edgar Wallace (IRE) 9-2jfav (12-0) Made most, led narrowly, faced strong challenge 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, forged on 2 out, good jump last, ran on well, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating William Cody (10-13) by 2l, 13 ran.
Ubetya (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, awkward at 4th, slow jump 10th, went 2nd next, well held when mistake 4 out, lost 2nd next, weakened in 3rd, 3rd of 6, 31l behind Grandeur D'ame (11-1) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Regal Blue (IRE) 22-1 (11-1) In rear, tailed off when pulled up 7th, at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Mylesfromwicklow (IRE) 7-2 (11-13) Made virtually all, not fluent 12th, faced challenge after 3 out, joined 2 out, led narrowly last, stayed on gamely, always doing enough, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating William Cody (11-7) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Firak (FR) 5-2 (12-2) Handy, led 15th, headed and remained prominent before 3 out, led again home turn and forged 8 lengths clear jumping last, ridden run-in and strongly pressed closing stages, just held on, all out, won at Hexham 3m (5) sft in Apr beating Drop Flight (11-12) by shd, 9 ran.
