held up in touch, under pressure 5 out, weakened next, modest 3rd
always prominent, led 5 out, hard ridden 2 out, kept on well
tracked leaders, pushed along halfway, weakened 8th, modest 4th
always in rear, detached 5th, pulled up after 7th
held up in touch, headway halfway, chased leaders 9th, ridden to challenge after 4 out, stayed on same pace
led until 5 out, weakened after next
This is a cracking little contest which can go to winning point-to-pointer and novice hurdler KILCREA VALE, who made a sparkling debut over fences at Ludlow, coming home well clear of subsequent winner Zamdy Man. Three Musketeers, a Grade 2 winner over hurdles and fences, was only around five lengths behind in the Grade 1 JLT at Cheltenham but didn't jump well when strongly fancied for a tough handicap at Newbury in November. King's Odyssey won a novices' handicap at Cheltenham a year ago and has only had two subsequent runs, falling when there with a chance on the same track last month. Blakemount was a disappointing favourite at Wetherby on Boxing Day but Cusheen Bridge has won twice over the course and distance and didn't get the run of the race at Aintree last time. Hester Flemen, a winning point-to-pointer, bumper and maiden hurdler, made a very impressive debut over fences at Catterick just over a year ago and could be anything.
King's Odyssey (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, not fluent 10th, fell 12th, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Three Musketeers (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Prominent, ridden before 3 out, unseated rider 2 out, at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Blakemount (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Led until 4th, prominent, no impression on winner and mistake 2 out, lost 2nd last, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Hollywoodien (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Cusheen Bridge (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Towards rear, hampered 4 out, headway when blundered next, no impression 2 out, 5th of 10, 11 1/4l behind Call Me Vic (11-12) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Kilcrea Vale (IRE) 15-8 (11-0) Tracked leader, keen, led before 4 out, clear after 2 out, easily, won at Ludlow 2m 4f (3) gs in Dec beating Zamdy Man (11-7) by 19l, 7 ran.
Hester Flemen (IRE) 11-2 (10-8) Made all, drew clear after 3 out, stayed on well, in command when ridden flat, eased towards finish, easily, won at Catterick 3m 1f (3) sft in Dec beating Racing Europe (11-1) by 6l, 5 ran.
