led, driven 2 out, soon under pressure, headed and no extra towards finish
tracked leaders, effort 2 out, soon no impression, weakened last
with leader, mistake 8th, outpaced 3 out, rallied into 2nd after next, kept on well under pressure
held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, stayed on strongly to lead close home
chased leaders, under pressure after 4th, soon pulled up after next
KNOCK HOUSE ended a long losing run when scoring easily at Bangor on his first outing after wind surgery. There should be more to come from him now despite a rise in the weights and Donald McCain’s charge gets the vote. Dans Le Vent has a shout on a recent fourth at Cheltenham while Jet Master has been in winning form over fences and can race off a lower mark back over the smaller obstacles today. Better is expected from Uptown Funk back on a faster surface on his second start after wind surgery and he’s preferred to Buckled.
Knock House (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Made all, 4 lengths clear 3 out, not fluent next, ridden out, won at Bangor 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Salmanazar (11-1) by 10l, 7 ran.
Dans Le Vent (FR) 10-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders on inside, lost place after 5th, switched left and headway when not fluent last, kept on flat, 4th of 12, 6l behind Aaron Lad (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Uptown Funk (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place after 8th, well beaten 3 out, 10th of 11, dist behind Midnight Shadow (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Jet Master (IRE) 10-1 (10-3) Held up behind, headway 3 out (usual 4 out), chased leaders before last (usual 2 out), soon ridden, stayed on to take 2nd final strides, no impression with winner, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Cultram Abbey (10-5) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Buckled 9-2 (10-11) Chased leaders, outpaced before 5 out, rallied 4 out, soon chasing winner, weakened after 2 out, 3rd of 7, 17l behind Born For War (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
