prominent, ridden after 3 out, stayed on from next, no impression
always towards rear, struggling from 4th
with leaders, led approaching 2nd, headed next, outpaced approaching 2 out
led, jumped slow 1st, headed approaching next, hit 5th, soon lost place, tailed off from next
with leaders, hampered 1st, led 3rd, mistake 4th and 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, led again last, driven out
held up and keen, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
prominent, ridden to lead 2 out, blundered and headed last, one pace run-in
held up mid-division, blundered 3rd, weakened after 5th
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, outpaced from next
towards rear, struggling from 5th
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up towards rear, some late headway approaching 2 out, never troubled leaders
Water Pistol looks the one to be with here and he is taken to get the better of C'Est La Vie and Jack The Giant. The selection has been running in better races than this and being by Double Trigger out of a winning hurdler he looks the type that should have a future over hurdles. He still has plenty to prove but we will give him another chance to prove that he has what it takes to win races in this sphere. C'Est La Vie was pulled-up on her hurdling debut at Wetherby on soft ground in what was quite a hot race and she should certainly be better suited by today's faster surface. Jack The Giant was a fair sort on the flat and anything that Nicky Henderson sends to post in these type of events has to be of interest. He is sure to have been well-schooled for this his hurdling debut and he is worth noting in the market. Kova Hall is another from a top yard and can't be ruled out of this on his hurdling bow but his form on the flat in Ireland is fairly moderate and for the winner we will return to Water Pistol.
Backbord (GER) 9-4 (11-2) Held up, headway to chase leaders 2 out, no extra well before last, 4th of 13, 29l behind Sole Agent (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Celtic Saloon (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Insurgent (9-11) at Musselburgh 2m nhf (6) gf in Jan.
Copper Bay (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, challenged next, hit last, soon weakened, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Ortolan Bleu (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (B) sft in Dec.
Investment Wings (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, close 2nd when fell at the last in race won by Opera de Coeur (10-12) at Warwick 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Jack The Giant (IRE) 3-1 (9-1) Led, headed 7f out, remained in touch, ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 1l behind Noble Future (9-3) at Beverley 1m 3yo hcp (5) gd in Sept (Flat).
Kova Hall (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Led, joined approaching straight, headed and weakened under 2f out, soon eased, last of 11, 14l behind Portant Fella (8-8) at Fairyhouse 1m 1f hcp 0-90 gd in Aug (Flat).
Maneki Neko (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, ridden and one pace next, 3rd of 15, 9l behind Alfred The Great (10-12) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Sultan Fontenaille (FR) (9-2) 6th of 10, 12l behind Evensong (8-10) at Lyon Parilly 1m 2f stk gd in Sept (Flat).
Trappeto (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Opera de Coeur (10-12) at Warwick 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Tudor Oak (IRE) 80-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened quickly, 12th of 14, well behind Caribou (10-12) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Water Pistol 40-1 (10-7) Held up, jumped right 2nd, never dangerous, 6th of 9, well behind Dan's Heir (10-9) at Fakenham 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Beaumont Girl (IRE) 250-1 (10-2) Mid-division, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Bayard (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gd in Jan, 13 ran.
C'Est La Vie 100-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened pulled up at the last in race won by Ortolan Bleu (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (B) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Commanche Sioux 200-1 (10-7) Behind, tailed off when pulled up 4 out pulled up 4 out in race won by Woodford Consult (10-4) at Newcastle 2m mrs mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan, 17 ran.
