led, headed approaching 4th, challenged winner approaching 3 out, soon ridden and one pace
mid-division, beaten from halfway
tracked leaders, led approaching 4th, ridden and headed after 6th, weakening when hit 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden halfway, ridden and mistake last, one pace flat
tracked leader, smooth headway to lead after 4 out, ridden and kept on after 2 out
mid-division, ridden 3 out, one pace when hit 2 out
towards rear, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway and in touch 4 out, soon ridden and outpaced
held up, headway 4 out, chased leaders from next, soon one pace
mid-division, ridden approaching 4 out, no impression
Masafi, a progressive performer on the flat with Sir Mark Prescott, probably lost no caste in defeat on his hurdling debut when chasing home the Paul Nicholls-trained Darrias at Huntingdon in October and it will be a surprise if he is not good enough to beat main rivals Spring Breeze and Golden Measure. The last mentioned was only rated in the mid-50s on the level and, while he would not be the first horse to improve for facing eight flights of hurdles, it will be a surprise if he is good enough to beat the selection. Tony Tie was capable on his day on the flat but showed no real aptitude for this game when last tried over timber three years ago and he is probably best watched. The Wizard Mul looks to have regressed on the level and is hard to fancy on his belated hurdling debut so a bigger threat is likely to come from Spring Breeze, although a penalty for his Haydock success leaves the Michael Dods-trained gelding with more to do. Masafi is a potentially useful recruit to the novice ranks though and he looks to have been found a decent opportunity to open his account.
Spring Breeze 14-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on well, won at Haydock 2m nov hdl (D) gd in Oct beating Barton Flower (10-5) by 10l, 19 ran.
Virtus 14-1 (10-4) Behind, tailed off halfway, last of 8, well behind Red Man (10-9) at Kelso 2m 2f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Nov.
Charlie George 20-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, close up 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 11, well behind Nuzzle (10-5) at Kelso 2m nov sll hdl (G) gs in Nov.
Ebac (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Led, headed approaching 4th, remained close up, weakened approaching 3 out, 11th of 14, well behind How Art Thou (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (F) gf in Nov.
Masafi (IRE) 5-4jt-fav (11-0) Keen, chased leader, mistake 5th, ridden to lead when stumbled 2 out, soon headed, one pace flat, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Darrias (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m lst nov hdl (A) gf in Oct.
Matthew My Son (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Mid-division, lost place 5th, soon tailed off pulled up 2 out in race won by Charlie Tango (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft in Nov, 13 ran.
Tinian 200-1 (11-2) Towards rear, never dangerous, 10th of 15, 33l behind First Look (11-2) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (E) gs.
Tony Tie 9-2 (11-0) Mistakes, ridden 3 out, weakened from next, 8th of 11, 30l behind Ambushed (11-0) at Ayr 2m mdn hdl (D) sft in Nov '02.
Auburn Lodge (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Towards rear, never dangerous, 7th of 12, well behind United Spirit (11-3) at Hexham 2m mrs nov hdl (E) gf in Oct.
Bint Sesaro (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Held up, weakened over 5f out, 10th of 18, 37l behind Camden Bella (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f mrs nhf (H) gd in May.
Filey Flyer 50-1 (10-9) Towards rear, never dangerous, 9th of 15, 30l behind First Look (11-2) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (E) gs.
Mae Moss 20-1 (10-2) With leaders, every chance 3f out, soon ridden, one pace and no impression final furlong, 4th of 11, 10l behind Lunar Eclipse (10-5) at Perth 2m nhf (H) gd in Jun.
What's Ahead 40-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, weakened 7f out, 7th of 14, 21l behind Agent Lois (10-6) at Musselburgh 2m mdn nhf (H) gf in Nov.
Golden Measure 7-4fav (11-0) Held up mid-division, ridden to lead over 2f out, soon headed, one pace, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Ripntear (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m nhf (H) gf.
The Wizard Mul 9-1 (8-8) Chased leaders to 2f out, soon beaten, 14th of 16, 14l behind Cleaver (9-1) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Oct (Flat).
