in touch, smooth headway to lead 2 out, kept on strongly run-in
chased leaders, lost place 2nd, behind and reminders 5th, tailed off
pressed leader, hit 4 out, slight lead 3 out, headed 2 out, chased winner until just before last, weakened run-in
raced wide in touch, headway 3 out, pressing leaders when blundered 2 out, soon ridden and edged left, weakened soon after
led, hit 4 out, headed 3 out, chased leaders, weakened between last 2
held up towards rear, headway to get in behind leaders approaching 2 out, no extra run-in
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, weakened after 3 out
restrained well in rear, pulled hard and jumped right, tailed off when went badly right 4 out, eased from next
always in rear
held up in mid-division, mistake 2nd, making steady headway on inside when hampered and lost momentum after 2 out, soon switched right, rallied approaching last, went 2nd last, kept on flat, no impression on winner
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, chasing leaders when not much room and bumped after 2 out, no extra approaching last
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 2nd, disputing 2nd approaching last, 3rd and one pace run-in
It's a big day for the Nicky Henderson team and CHATTERBOX should get them off to a winning start. He beat stablemate and Betfair Hurdle favourite My Tent Or Yours on his hurdling debut over track and trip in December, with Kuda Huraa back in sixth, and that form is head and shoulders above anything else in this that has had a run. Lac Fontana, a winner on the Flat in France last year, could be the danger therefore on his debut for Paul Nicholls. Ballyculla is a points winner but may find this an insufficient test of stamina while Milord may need more time but has been highly tried so far.
Chatterbox (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, slow 2nd, chased leader between last 2, led before last, kept on well flat, readily, won at Newbury 2m hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating My Tent Or Yours (11-5) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Aciano (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Close up, ridden over 4f out, soon lost lost place, last of 14, well behind Fair Trade (11-4) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
Ballyculla (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Ww in mid div gd prog to 2nd 2out, nev on terms with wnr, ko, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Goonyella (11-4) at Loughanmore 3m ire ptp hvy in Dec.
Fuhgeddaboudit 100-1 (11-0) In touch in 5th, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, went 2nd soon after 3 out, ridden and lost 2nd between last 2, weakened to 5th and blundered last, 5th of 10, 20l behind Chatterbox (11-0) at Newbury 2m hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Hand On Bach (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) In touch, went 3rd before 2 out, driven on long run to last, no chance with leading duo, weakened before last, 5th of 9, 42l behind Milansbar (10-9) at Folkestone 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) hvy in Dec.
Kuda Huraa (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway 3 out to chase leaders 2 out, ridden and weakened before last, 6th of 10, 22l behind Chatterbox (11-0) at Newbury 2m hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Military Precision (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Mid-division, no impression from 6th, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Saphir Du Rheu (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Ramona Chase 8-1 (11-0) Jumped right and moderately, pulled hard, always behind, tailed off 6th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Whenever (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Oct '09, 11 ran.
Ullswater (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, 9th of 13, 32l behind Brigadoon (9-2) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct '11 (flat).
Lac Fontana (FR) (9-6) 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Bit By Bit (8-12) at Saint-Cloud(FR) 1m 4f stk hvy in Jun (flat).
Leo Luna 11-2 (9-3) In touch, headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 10, 9l behind Stencive (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 4f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Jul (flat).
Milord (GER) 50-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, headway approaching 2 out, ridden to dispute well beaten 3rd between last 2, no extra from last, 6th of 8, 35l behind Rolling Star (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
