chased leader on inside, led going well approaching 2 out, clear last, easily
led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened thereafter
mid-division, pushed along and outpaced home turn, weakened from 2 out
mid-division on inside, pushed along and weakened home turn
always towards rear, tailed off
held up, pushed along from 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, struggling from 3 out, tailed off
prominent, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, plugged on in distant 3rd
mid-division out wide, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, could not go pace of leader before last, plugged on in 2nd
rear of mid-division, pushed along from 4th, behind home turn, tailed off
Pride Of Hawridge won twice on the Flat but didn’t really settle on his hurdling bow at Huntingdon. The Wild Westerner won a bumper here in June of last year but hasn’t raced since while Keep Running was only sixth under a penalty at Bangor in October having won a maiden there earlier. Already successful in a point and a bumper, CHASING FIRE was backed off the boards here on his hurdling debut and won as he liked. He’ll be a very short price to extend his unbeaten record. Indian Sunbird has placed in a couple of bumpers and a hurdle but They Call Me Pete and the Irish import Can't Beat History may have more scope.
Chasing Fire 2-7fav (11-4) Pressed leader, led 5th, drew clear from 2 out, easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn (4) gs in Nov beating Embolden (11-4) by 16l, 11 ran.
Keep Running (FR) 6-4fav (11-5) Left in lead 1st, jumped markedly right throughout, headed 5th, pushed along after 3 out and dropped away, 6th of 13, 26 3/4l behind Gwennie May Boy (10-13) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (3) gs in Oct.
Barnabas Collins (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders on inside, hit 4 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before next, at Wetherby 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Can't Beat History (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, 7th halfway, headway 4f out and disputed lead briefly over 2f out, 2nd and ridden entering straight, no impression on winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 14, 7l behind Land Afar (12-0) at Ballinrobe 2m 1f gd in May.
Indian Sunbird (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) In rear, plugged on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 8, 12 1/2l behind Bertie's Wish (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Pride Of Hawridge (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, weakened 3 out, 9th of 16, 23 1/4l behind Hansard (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Dec.
Straitouttacompton 150-1 (9-1) Dwelt held up, ridden 2f out, never on terms, last of 14, 7l behind Silks Pass (9-2) at Southwell 7f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
The Wild Westerner (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up in touch in mid-division on outside, closed from 8f out, challenged going well 3f out, led 2f out, clear inside final furlong, easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (5) gs in Jun beating Lurgoe (10-9) by 3 1/4l, 8 ran.
They Call Me Pete 6-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, wandered slightly into 4th and went 2nd, pushed along after 4 out, 4th and held final 50 yards, kept on, last of 4, 3/4l behind Order Of St John (11-4) at Leicester 2m mdn (4) gf in Nov.
Kenahope (FR) 50-1 (10-11) Held up off the pace in rear-division, plugged on in modest 5th after 3 out, 5th of 10, 34 1/2l behind The Trader (11-4) at Southwell 2m mdn (4) gd in Dec.
