tracked leaders on outside, ridden approaching 3 out, outpaced and no impression from next, not fluent last
held up in touch in last pair, not fluent 3 out, soon beaten
tracked leaders on inside, pecked 9th, went 2nd last, edged right and stayed on well towards finish, just held
held up in touch in last pair, headway approaching 3 out, led next, went right and not fluent last, driven flat, edged right towards finish, held on
led, headed when not fluent 2 out, mistake last, no extra towards finish
tracked leader, took keen hold, not fluent 10th, ridden and lost 2nd when not fluent 3 out, soon hung right and beaten
Kris Cross and Superior Quality may have a bit to find to figure in this but the remaining quartet look closely matched. According To Trev has an extra penalty to carry, however, having won a Class 3 at Cheltenham in the autumn, though his last two runs have been in Grade 2 company. James Ewart rates LORD WISHES highly and, though surprisingly beaten on his hurdling debut at Newcastle, he made no mistake next time here over an extra half-mile. This even longer trip shouldn't be a problem and he's fancied to get the better of easy Sedgefield winner Witness In Court and Aerial, who is still a maiden over hurdles but has won four times over fences up to 2m6f and did finish ahead of According To Trev at Cheltenham in December.
According To Trev (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression before last, 5th of 7, 31l behind Coneygree (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Dec.
Kris Cross (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders went 2nd 3rd, not fluent 5th or 7th, mistake 8th, weakened before 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Our Joey (10-9) at Kelso 2m 6f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) hvy in Jan, 7 ran.
Lord Wishes (IRE) 8-11fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led next, clear last, stayed on well, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Dec beating Maybe I Wont (11-0) by 11l, 11 ran.
Superior Quality (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 6th, led after 3 out, clear next, ran on, won at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Salmanazar (11-0) by 5l, 18 ran.
Witness In Court (IRE) 2-1fav (11-8) Made all, clear before 2 out, easily, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec beating Madam Lilibet (9-11) by 22l, 12 ran.
Aerial (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Held up in rear in touch, headway on outside approaching 2 out, effort to challenge on stands side rail last, soon ridden, kept on same pace, well held flat, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Coneygree (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Dec.
