tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led 2 out, edged right and headed flat, one pace
held up in touch, lost place 3rd, behind 8th, tailed off
held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in touch, ridden after 8th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
mistake 6th, always behind, tailed off
tracked leaders, challenged 5th, weakened after 8th, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, led flat, stayed on well
held up towards rear, headway after 8th, no extra last
tracked leader, led 3rd, hit 5th, mistake and headed 7th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up, always towards rear, tailed off
mid-division, took keen hold, headway approaching 6th, weakened before 3 out
mid-division, struggling after 7th, behind next, tailed off
held up towards rear, some headway after 7th, weakened after next, tailed off
mid-division, ridden after 5th, weakened before next, pulled up after
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd or 5th, headway before 6th, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off
led until not fluent 3rd, led 7th, headed 2 out, edged left flat, one pace
Owner John Hales went to £165,000 to acquire Mac's Return at the Cheltenham sales in December after the six-year-old had won a point-to-point at Lingstown in a canter. He's up against some decent opposition for his debut under the Paul Nicholls banner but will be expected to make a good start. One Conemara started odds-on for his debut in a Uttoxeter bumper in June but had to share the spoils with Jazz Man, He should do better over timber but it's COPPER BIRCH who has to be the selection. Evan Williams' charge made connections of At Fishers Cross sweat at Ffos Las in November and, as the winner has won his three subsequent races including a Grade 2 at Cheltenham, he looks ready to go one better. Phone Home ran well enough behind Big Society at Exeter on New Year's Day to be considered for a place while Three Kingdoms, a winner on the Flat at Galway in September, will have learnt plenty from his hurdling debut behind the promising Counsel at Sedgefield.
Copper Birch (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Led, not fluent 2 out or when headed last, held by winner flat, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind At Fishers Cross (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Glenwood Prince (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, struggling 7th, never near leaders, 6th of 12, well behind Benvolio (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
In The Binyanis (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) In touch in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway approaching 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 9, 21l behind High Storm (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in May.
Mac's Return (IRE) 9-4 (12-0) Ww in tch, went on easily 2out, impsve, won at Lingstown 3m ire ptp sft in Nov beating The Orange Rogue (12-0) by 8l, 13 ran.
Milosam (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, hung left 3f out, no impression, 9th of 18, 22l behind Kings Lad (11-4) at Wincanton 2m mdn NH flat (6) gs in Mar.
Neopolis (FR) (10-3) 7th of 12, 11l behind Natan (10-10) at 1m 4f stk gd in Aug '06 (flat).
One Conemara (IRE) 8-11fav (10-12) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, strongly challenged over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, soon rallied, joined winner post, won at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gd in Jun deadheating with Jazz Man (11-1), 10 ran.
Phone Home (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) In touch on inside, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, ridden and went 2nd between last 2, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Big Society (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Ranthambore 16-1 (11-0) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 15, 19l behind Cabaret Girl (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Seranwen (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden 6f out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 11, well behind Titchwood (10-3) at Ffos Las 2m NH flat (5) sft in Mar.
Shuh Shuh Gah (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear and keen, headway before 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led 2 out, soon pressed, kept on and headed close home, 2nd of 10, shd behind De Blacksmith (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) sft in Jan.
Special Mate 10-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, reminders after 5th, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Fourjacks (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Take The Mick 66-1 (10-12) Behind, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 5th of 14, 19l behind Kilmurvy (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
The Two Of Us 100-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, pushed along and weakened over 4f out, tailed off over 3f out, 12th of 14, 44l behind Hollow Penny (11-4) at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
Walcot Lathyrus 25-1 (11-5) Took keen hold and prominent, went 2nd briefly 8th, weakened quickly soon after, tailed off, 10th of 15, well behind Heronshaw (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Three Kingdoms (IRE) 9-4 (10-4) Held up in touch, chased winner before 2 out, soon with chance, one pace and no impression before last, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Counsel (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
