tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3rd until ridden and weakened before 3 out
mid-division, lost place and pushed along 5th, well beaten 11th 3 out, passed some well held rivals flat
led, hanging left final bend, went left and blundered last, headed flat, held after, kept on
towards rear, not fluent 1st, some headway 5th, pushed along after 4 out, soon beaten, well held 8th 3 out
towards rear, not fluent 2nd, well beaten after 4 out, tailed off in last when jumped left and mistake 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, some headway after 4 out, no impression and well beaten 9th 3 out
mid-division, raced keenly, headway after 4 out, went 2nd before last, led flat, stayed on well
in rear, well beaten after 4 out, remote 10th 3 out
chased leaders, jumped left and not fluent 1st, mistake 2nd and 3rd, slow 4th, went 2nd before 3 out until approaching last, no extra flat
in rear, jumped left 1st, mistake 3rd, not fluent next, some headway after 4 out, well held 7th when mistake 3 out, mistake 2 out
chased leaders, raced keenly, pushed along after 4 out, weakened and pulled up before 3 out ( The Veterinary Officer reported that JAUNTY FREYJA, which was pulled up, bled from the nose )
chased leader, jumped right and dived at 2nd, lost 2nd after next, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, 4th and no impression from 3 out
It’s a surprise to see Ronde De Nuit racing on heavy ground again as he clearly wasn’t suited at Doncaster. Richard Johnson prefers Forever Des Long, who wasn’t beaten far in a bunch finish in a jumpers’ bumper a couple of weeks ago. Olympic Conqueror, a middle-distance winner on the Flat, made a satisfactory start under NH Rules when third here last month but JAUNTY FREYJA looks to the type to progress now tackling hurdles having already shown ability in bumpers. Method Madness was second at Downpatrick in the autumn but has switched stables since. Newcomer Duke Of Earl is bred for hurdling and cost £62,000 so is worth a market check.
Blue Beirut (IRE) 250-1 (11-4) Mid-division, closed on outside before 4th, lost place after next, well beaten before 3 out, 8th of 13, dist behind Calico (11-4) at Ludlow 2m (4) hvy in Jan.
Duke Of Earl (FR) Noroit gelding out of Visiorienne.
Forever Des Long (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders 2f out, stayed on towards finish, not pace to challenge, 5th of 12, 1 3/4l behind Royal Pretender (11-4) at Kempton 2m 2f (5) pol in Feb.
Guns For Hire (IRE) 200-1 (11-4) Held up rear of mid-division, headway after 5th, 5th 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 11, 26 3/4l behind Grumpy Charley (11-10) at Chepstow 2m (4) hvy in Feb.
Havana Sunset 28-1 (9-7) Soon prominent, led 10f out, headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 12 1/2l behind Devizes (9-7) at Kempton 1m 4f stks (6) pol in Jan.
Helovaplan (IRE) 200-1 (11-4) Behind on outside, jumped right and not fluent 1st, behind from 4th, 10th of 13, dist behind Calico (11-4) at Ludlow 2m (4) hvy in Jan.
Method Madness (IRE) 5-1 (12-2) Chased leaders, 3rd from 5f out, closed on leaders from 3f out and soon led, ridden and headed 1 1/2f out, no extra and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Off Your Rocco (11-12) at Downpatrick 2m 2f gd in Sep.
Obey The Rules (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Raced keenly, chased leaders, steadied before 2nd, no impression from 5th, well beaten after 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, dist behind Dreams Of Home (11-8) at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) hvy in Feb.
Olympic Conqueror (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Prominent, slow 5th, challenged 3 out, no impression on winner flat, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 13, 6 1/2l behind Calico (11-4) at Ludlow 2m (4) hvy in Jan.
Rod's Dream 100-1 (11-4) Prominent, led 3rd, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 18, 31 1/4l behind Patroclus (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Jaunty Freyja 7-2 (10-12) Always prominent, ridden 3f out, no impression on winner final 2f, kept on, just held onto 2nd, 2nd of 14, 3 1/4l behind Ballybough Mary (10-12) at Hereford 2m (5) sft in Jan.
Well Briefed (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Led 3-15; wknd app 2 out, 4th of 12, 13 1/4l behind Cousin Pascal (12-0) at Chaddesley Corbett 3m sft in Dec.
Ronde De Nuit (FR) 11-4 (10-12) Held up in midfield, steady headway last (usual 5th), ridden entering home straight, faded soon after, 8th of 9, dist behind Progressive (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f mdn fll (4) hvy in Dec.
