chased leader, led on inside before 3rd, ridden and narrowly headed before 3 out, stayed challenging, led again 2 out, driven clear from last
chased leaders until outpaced 8th, no chance after, tailed off
narrow lead until headed before 3rd, with leader, led approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened and no chance with winner flat
tended to jump right, ridden 8th, soon outpaced, no chance after, modest 4th when went right and blundered 2 out
blundered badly and almost unseated rider 2nd, held up, headway to 3rd before 5th, hit next, driven after 4 out, no chance with leading duo from 3 out, hit last
in touch, chased leaders 5th until outpaced soon after next, no chance after, tailed off
always in rear, tailed off
Spear Thistle likes testing conditions and landed a handicap hurdle on very heavy going here just over a year ago. He showed nothing in his two starts over fences though that was back in 2007 and he's progressed since then. VINO GRIEGO has raced at the very highest level over timber and been placed in a Grade 2. He looked likely to lose his maiden tag over fences at Cheltenham last time but an error at the third last handed the initiative to eventual winner The Giant Bolster. Sweet Seville, who makes her chasing debut, landed a minor handicap over timber at Fakenham last month before being totally outclassed in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham. General Kutuzov won a novice hurdle on very heavy ground here a year ago but hasn't shown much so far in three starts over fences.
General Kutuzov (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Close up and keen, led after 2nd, headed next, tracked leaders, in 3rd when blundered badly and unseated rider 6 out, in a race won by Silver Kate (10-7) at Chepstow 3m beg chase (4) sft in Jan, 7 ran.
Medellin (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Held up, tracked leading pair from 5th, mistake 3 out, weakened next, lost 3rd flat, last of 5, well behind William's Wishes (11-8) at Hereford 2m nov chs (3) sft in Jan.
Spear Thistle 50-1 (10-2) Held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, weakened after next, 11th of 14, well behind Tiger O'Toole (10-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Upham Atom 10-1 (10-12) Led early, tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up approaching last, in a race won by Badgers Cove (11-5) at Towcester 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Vino Griego (FR) 7-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 7th, hit 11th, went 2nd 12th, upsides and blundered and pecked 3 out, led 2 out, driven and joined last, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind The Giant Bolster (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) gs in Jan.
Fillyofthevalley 100-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up last, outpaced 12th, soon lost touch, tailed off when blundered 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Kerada (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4f mrs nov chs (5yo+) (4) sft in Jan, 4 ran.
Sweet Seville (FR) 200-1 (10-7) Soon detatched, tailed off 7th, pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Grands Crus (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan, 14 ran.
