disputed lead, led before 4th, headed and remained prominent after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, led after 4 out, pressed before 3 out, headed narrowly before 2 out, ridden and hung right after 2 out, not fluent last, no extra run-in
towards rear, pushed along and lost touch after 3 out, tailed off
towards rear, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway into 3rd 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden before last, kept on but no chance with winner
in rear, mistake 2nd, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, pressed leader before 3 out, led narrowly before 2 out, ridden before last, pushed out run-in, ran on well, readily
mid-division, pulled up before 4 out
disputed lead, tracked leaders 4th, not fluent 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
BOOK OF SECRETS made a promising debut over hurdles when second at Bangor on his first run for Dan Skelton’s yard. That was also his first outing since January and he can go one better in this. Sabre Jet looks next best of those with hurdling experience but several arrive with Flat experience. Of those, Cuban Cigar is a rare runner over hurdles for the Hannon yard and Buxted Too could go well. Parliament Hill had just the four starts in Ireland and debuts for a yard in fine form.
Agent Empire (GER) 22-1 (10-12) Mistake 1st, pulled hard, always in rear, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind In This World (10-12) at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Book of Secrets (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 2nd, not fluent 4 out, ridden 2 out, headed approaching next, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Saint Segal (10-12) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Crestwood 14-1 (9-8) Prominent, pushed along 3f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 11, 5 1/4l behind The Nu Form Way (9-6) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (6) sft in Oct.
Cuban Cigar 11-1 (9-8) Towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, never nearer, 8th of 14, 6 3/4l behind Marion's Boy (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Krypton Gold (IRE) 8-1 (8-9) Rear of mid-division, some headway in mid-division on inner entering straight, 7th and ridden 2f out, 6th 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 17, 3 1/2l behind L'Un Deux Trois (9-6) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Outback Boy (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Raced in mid-division, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, made no impression, 9th of 10, dist behind Sonning (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Parliament Hill 50-1 (9-7) Led early, prominent, closed up travelling smoothly straight, pushed along 2f out, kept on without matching principals inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 3 1/4l behind Point Nepean (9-7) at Navan 1m 5f mdn Yielding in May.
Sabre Jet (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Raced keenly, led, clear 4th until mistake 3 out, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 8, 29 1/4l behind Twilight Twist (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Trusty Scout (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) Not jump well, led until 1st, chased winner until 2 out, weakened into 4th flat, 4th of 8, 22l behind John Locke (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Buxted Too 9-4fav (8-8) Led after 1f, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 6, 3 1/4l behind Sir Chauvelin (9-11) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Many Words (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Pulled hard in 3rd, went 2nd after 4 out, switched left and lost 2nd before 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 7, 15 3/4l behind Tease And Seize (10-12) at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in Nov.
