held up, headway 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3rd, mistake next, effort 3 out, weakened next
held up, mistake 1st, headway 5 out, weakened 4 out
held up in rear, headway on outside after 4 out, weakened next
led, driven when challenged 3 out, edged right approaching next, headed last, no extra closing stages
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 5 out, driven to lead flat, ran on well
keen, prominent, lost place 4th, outpaced after 4 out, rallied 2 out, stayed on into 4th approaching and mistake last, never a threat
tracked leaders, challenged inside 3 out, every chance when short of room approaching next, led last, headed flat, kept on
in touch, effort 3 out, soon no impression
It could pay to stick with CHICA BUENA in her current form. She made every yard to win a Listed contest at Aintree by a wide margin last month and is taken to defy a hike in the weights. Kelpies Myth found the selection too good over these hurdles in November while Aristo Du Plessis won this contest in 2016 but may prefer some cut in the ground. Irish Roe failed to win last year but ran well for second at Doncaster recently while the unexposed Night Of Glory may improve past the likes of Get Out The Gate and Scheu Time having won a juvenile event when last over hurdles and switching yards subsequently.
Irish Roe (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Tracked leader, lost place 4 out, went 2nd next, ridden to challenge and every chance between last 2, kept on, not pace of winner flat, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Equus Amadeus (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Aristo Du Plessis (FR) 6-1 (12-3) Led, mistake 3rd, headed 3 out, mistake last, weakened flat, 6th of 9, 9 1/2l behind Cornerstone Lad (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Nuts Well 7-2 (11-9) In touch, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 9 3/4l behind Aristo Du Plessis (11-4) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Scheu Time (IRE) 5-2fav (11-4) Led or disputed lead, headed after 2nd, 3rd halfway, pushed along early straight, ridden and no extra approaching last, 7th of 13, 13 1/4l behind The King Of Brega (11-3) at Thurles 2m hcp gd in Dec.
Get Out The Gate (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Keen, led 2nd, ridden 2 out, 4 lengths clear when rider dropped whip flat, won at Musselburgh 2m mdn (4) gd in Dec beating Doctor Dex (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 4 ran.
Normal Norman 50-1 (11-9) Held up behind, short lived effort on outside before 4 out, ridden and kept on after last, never troubled leaders, 7th of 20, 8 1/4l behind Red Hot Chilly (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Kelpies Myth 8-1 (11-12) Led to 4th, with winner, led again narrowly 5 out, blundered 3 out, ridden and headed last, no chance with winner flat, 2nd of 12, 12l behind Xpo Universel (10-0) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Chica Buena (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Led or disputed lead, drew clear after 2 out, easily, won at Aintree 2m 1f lst fll (1) sft in Dec beating Liffeydale Dreamer (10-12) by 23l, 8 ran.
Val Mome (FR) 5-2fav (11-12) In touch, headway on inside after 4 out, every chance from 2 out and throughout run in, just failed, 2nd of 9, shd behind Richard Strauss (10-6) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Night Of Glory 66-1 (8-5) Behind, driven over 4f out, never involved, 17th of 33, 24 3/4l behind Low Sun (9-2) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp stks (2) gf in Oct.
