in rear, never showed
handy, pressed leader before 2 out, ridden and every chance last, kept on and not much room between leaders run-in, switched right and no extra final 100 yards
prominent on outer, slow jump 8th and soon in rear, tailed off
towards rear, bumped 1st, headway to chase leaders 3 out, went 3rd jumping 2 out, pressed leaders final flight, ridden run-in, ran on but held closing stages (finished 3rd placed 2nd)
mid-division, ridden and weakened before 2 out
mid-division, jumped left 1st, towards rear, pushed along home turn, kept on steadily, ran on run-in and went 4th 100 yards out, not reach leaders
chased leaders, pushed along in 4th 2 out, not fluent last, ridden and stayed on strongly run-in, not clear run 110 yards out and switched right, got up to lead final strides
mid-division, ridden home turn, no real progress
chased leaders on outer, pushed along home turn, well behind 2 out
led, ridden and faced challenge before 2 out, stayed on gamely, drifted left run-in, no extra and headed final strides (finished 2nd placed 3rd)
NonRunner
A winner on the Flat during the summer, MASTERDREAM returned to hurdling with a recent victory in a conditionals‘ race at Hereford and escapes a penalty. Smart Connection returned a shock 80/1 winner at Cartmel in August but Dynamic Kate won at Worcester in the same month and makes more appeal. Diamond Twin makes his handicap debut with a tongue-tie applied while High Grounds has form over these hurdles though is returning from a lengthy absence.
Dynamic Kate (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, kept on from before last but no impression, 4th of 10, 6 1/2l behind Top Cloud (10-2) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Masterdream (FR) 9-1 (11-6) Prominent, led narrowly 6th, pushed along before last and forged clear, ran on well, readily, won at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in Nov beating Valentine Getaway (10-11) by 5 1/2l, 12 ran.
Aire Valley Lad 22-1 (11-3) Pressed leader, pushed along home turn, weakened 2 out, 11th of 12, 26 1/4l behind Zwicky (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Diamond Twin (FR) 33-1 (11-6) Raced keenly, tracked leader, led 6th until before 2 out, weakened between last two, 5th of 8, 10 1/2l behind Montregard (10-10) at Warwick 2m 3f mdn (4) gd in Apr.
Smart Connection (IRE) 80-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 2 out, close up last, not clear run final bend, soon switched right, stayed on, led close home, won at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp (5) gs in Aug beating Native Fighter (11-13) by nk, 9 ran.
Poppop (FR) 33-1 (11-0) In rear, headway 7th, went 2nd 3 out, every chance 2 out, no extra flat, 6th of 11, 10l behind Celestial Park (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
General Hubble (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, pushed along 2 out, ridden next, kept on towards finish, 4th of 6, 11 1/4l behind Ghasham (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Mar.
Howzat Hiris (FR) 11-4 (10-6) Led, joined 7th, headed and weakened quickly before 4 out, soon pulled up, at Newcastle 3m hcp (5) hvy in Apr.
Oliver's Island (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Towards rear, headway on outside before 7th, disputed lead before 4 out, pushed along and headed 3 out, gradually faded, 9th of 15, 19 1/2l behind Fortcanyon (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 6f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Dr Lockdown (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) Mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, well behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Perth 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Sep.
High Grounds (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Raced wide in touch, headway 3 out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Kings Creek (11-10) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gd in May.
