held up, in rear, struggling 3 out, tailed off
held up, in rear, struggling 3 out, tailed off
in touch, smooth headway to challenge and every chance 2 out, weakened before last, lost 3rd near finish
mid-division, no headway soon after 3 out
held up, in rear, some headway approaching 2 out, never in contention
held up, towards rear, headway 3 out, challenging soon after, led 2 out, edge left approching last, soon joined, headed and no extra final 150 yards
chased leaders, disputing lead when blundered badly 3 out, eased, not recover
in touch, challenged and every chance 2 out, weakened approaching last
led until 4 out, weakened rapidly, tailed off
chased leaders, hit 3rd, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, pushed along after 4 out, hung left and weakened after 3 out, tailed off
towards rear, stayed on from 2 out, never reached leaders
towards rear when hampered and fell 4th
chased leaders, weakening when fell 2 out
held up, in mid-division, headway from 2 out, stayed on flat, went 3rd near finish
held up in mid-division, smooth headway and switched left after 3 out, chased leader soon after 2 out, challenged and mistake last, quickened to lead final 150 yards
mid-division, weakened 4 out
chased leaders, weakened soon after 2 out
mid-division, driven and weakened soon after 2 out
held up, towards rear, stayed on from after 3 out, never in contention
towards rear, struggling when blundered 4 out, struggling after, soon pulled up
held up, in rear headway after 3 out
chased leader, led 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened soon after
A cracking renewal of what is always one of the season's best handicap hurdles and at the weights it will take a good one to lower the colours of GET ME OUT OF HERE, while Spirit River, Mamlook, Takeroc and Harry Tricker are among the leading protagonists. We'll start with the selection, who beat Spirit River five lengths off level weights over course and distance when we last saw him in November. Presumably put away to preserve his mark with this race in mind, he acts in conditions and remains unbeaten in four starts so far. Tony McCoy will have hard to work hard enough to do the weight today and we are taking that as a positive hint that the Accordion gelding can make it five from five. Spirit River came out next time and showed plenty of improvement in winning at Cheltenham on soft ground. It is possible to pick holes in the form of the race and he does now have to concede 6lbs to Jonjo O'Neill's charge, but nonetheless he looks the Henderson first-string here and is very much respected. Harry Tricker has been a warm order in the build-up and that is no surprise after he ran Khyber Kim to two lengths at Cheltenham in the Greatwood Hurdle when last seen. Raised 12lbs for that, he looks very competitive again today. Mamlook has gone up 6lbs for a comfortable Ascot win and will handle conditions here, though unless he has improved now, previous tries from today's mark suggest he may be found wanting. Manyriverstocross will relish conditions and the strong pace, and if he handles the hustle and bustle then you wouldn't rule him out off 135, while at bigger prices Fairyland still looks a useful sort for the Seven Barrows team and might be good enough to nick a place with conditions to suit. Ronaldo Des Mottes has gone up 11lbs for an eyecatching Ascot win and with a nice racing weight he looks likely to be bang there when the tap is turned on, and then there is Takeroc. Paul Nicholls brought him back over hurdles at Cheltenham last month, where he ran with credit for a long way from today's mark. Trip and ground will suit and if he has come on for that outing he looks well handicapped on his chase form. A high quality contest where Get Me Out Of Here is taken to maintain his 100 per cent record.
Blue Bajan (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Led, quickened approaching 3 out, headed next, soon ridden, no extra flat, last of 7, 9l behind Go Native (11-7) at Newcastle 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Nov.
Mutual Friend (USA) 9-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, never trouble leaders, 11th of 12, 33l behind Zabeel Palace (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Mamlook (IRE) 10-1 (10-1) Held up mid-division, steady headway 3 out, led last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan beating Tasheba (10-6) by 2l, 17 ran.
Songe (FR) 100-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, outpaced after 5th, soon struggling in rear, tailed off, last of 7, 36l behind Khyber Kim (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl G2 (1) sft in Dec.
Takeroc (FR) 11-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway after 2 out, one pace approaching last, no impression flat, 5th of 16, 11l behind Arctic Magic (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (2) sft in Jan.
Ronaldo Des Mottes (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, good headway on outside after 3 out, led 2 out, wandered approaching last, drew clear flat, comfortably, won at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec beating First Avenue (10-13) by 5l, 14 ran.
Spirit River (FR) 11-4fav (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, clear before last, ridden and stayed on strongly run-in, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec beating Olympian (10-5) by 6l, 11 ran.
First Point (GER) 10-11fav (11-4) Chased leaders, effort when blundered badly and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Victorias Groom (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov stks (3) sft in Jan, 4 ran.
Simarian (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Always in rear, tailed off when mistake 3 out, 15th of 16, well behind Arctic Magic (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (2) sft in Jan.
Ring The Boss (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, 13th of 15, 35l behind Time For Rupert (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-155 (2) sft in Dec.
Stravinsky Dance 7-2 (9-13) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, no impression when blundered next, soon eased, tailed off, 15th of 17, well behind Mamlook (10-1) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Any Given Day (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, hit 6th, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, every chance 2 out, ridden and weakened before last, 5th of 11, 9l behind Reve De Sivola (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec.
Harry Tricker 6-1fav (10-3) Held up in touch, went 2nd after 3 out, challenged next, still every chance flat, stayed on, not pace of winner, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Khyber Kim (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Frontier Dancer (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, never on terms, 10th of 17, 27l behind Mamlook (10-1) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Manyriverstocross (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Keen hold, held up, no progress from 3 out, 7th of 11, 33l behind Reve De Sivola (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec.
Get Me Out Of Here (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, smooth headway on inside from 3 out, chased leaders after 2 out, challenged last, pushed along to lead final 150 yards, comfortably, won at Newbury 2m con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov beating Yetholm (10-12) by 1l, 12 ran.
European Dream (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Soon mid-division, outpaced 2 out, never on terms, 7th of 12, 16l behind Eradicate (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs.
Fairyland (GER) 9-2 (10-8) Chased leaders, led 3 out, under pressure 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on well driven out, won at Newbury 2m listed hcp hdl 0-145 (1) gs in Nov beating Frontier Dancer (11-3) by 5l, 12 ran.
Fushe Jo 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, headway 3 out, led before next, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov beating King In Waiting (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
Numide (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, no real progress after 3 out, 9th of 14, 24l behind Ronaldo Des Mottes (11-10) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Arch Rebel (USA) 20-1 (10-5) Mid-division, no impression from 3 out, 11th of 30, 13l behind Puyol (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m ext hcp hdl hvy in Jan.
Oldrik (GER) 7-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, some headway before 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, 8th of 16, 15l behind Arctic Magic (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (2) sft in Jan.
Chaninbar (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Reluctant to line up, led 2nd, mistake and headed 6th, chased leaders until after 3 out, plugged on, 4th of 13, 21l behind Qozak (11-10) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Pascha Bere (FR) 9-2 (11-1) Held up in touch, headway after 3 out, soon every chance, held when not much room after last, weakened flat, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Tasheba (11-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) hvy in Dec.
