always towards rear
track leader, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, headed well before last, soon held by winner, lost 2nd flat
led, mistake 5th, ridden and headed 3 out, gradually faded
mid-division until weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, headway after 5th, joined leaders next, led soon after 2 out, pushed clear
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before last
mid-division, headway after 5th, every chance when mistake 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next
chased leaders, blundered 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
mistake 2nd, always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led 3 out, soon ridden and headed, weakened
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner
chased leaders until 4th, weakened 3 out
An open race here with Celestial Halo, Emerald Wilderness and Peredur making it to the shortlist, and the vote goes to Celestial Halo. Only beaten by three lengths in the St Ledger earlier this year, this classy flat recruit has joined a stable who are sure to have him well-schooled for this hurdles debut. Interestingly this will be the softest ground to date that he has encountered but if he acts on it (enough in pedigree to suggest he will), then he could prove to be a class above. However he is no sure thing and if things don't go to plan, then it may be Emerald Wilderness who can take advantage. Whilst not as good on the flat as the selection, he does have a couple of hurdles runs under his belt and whilst the form was not wholly franked over Christmas by Ashkazar, the overall form looks solid. Fredo ran well on debut and should go well, whilst Power Shared and Pleasurable are both capable of reaching the frame. Peredur looks the best of the winners in the field and Christian Von Der Recke's gelding should not be ruled out. An open race, but preference is for Celestial Halo.
Inchlaggan (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Keen, with leader, jumped slowly 2nd, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 8, 20l behind Approved Force (10-12) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Light Yield (USA) 33-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, ridden to leads approaching last, kept on well, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd beating Haldibari (10-12) by 3l, 14 ran.
Peredur (GER) 7-1 (11-5) Led, soon clear, headed approaching 2 out, weakened, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Art Professor (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 3yo nov hdl (2) gd in Nov.
Jeanquiri (FR) 3-1 (11-2) In touch, chased winner 3rd until 5th, ridden, every chance 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 11, 20l behind Its Moon (11-2) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gf.
Celestial Halo (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Held up behind, effort when not much room over 2f out, kept on and edged left final furlong, 7th of 10, 3l behind Lucarno (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 7f Grp 1 (1) gf in Sept (Flat).
Damascus Gold 100-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, never going well, always in rear, tailed off, last of 14, 35l behind Fourteenth (9-0) at Windsor 1m 2f mdn stk (5) gs in Jun (Flat).
Emerald Wilderness (IRE) 11-8fav (10-12) Mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, chased winner 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Ashkazar (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) sft.
Fredo (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Prominent, chased winner from 3rd, no impression approaching 2 out, 3rd of 12, 11l behind Mamlook (11-5) at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (2) gs.
Global Traffic 33-1 (11-0) Not jump well, always behind, tailed off after 4th, 8th of 12, well behind Mamlook (11-5) at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (2) gs.
Kurumda 25-1 (9-3) Always rear, no impression, 13th of 15, 33l behind Dustoori (9-3) at Bath 1m 4f mdn stk (5) gd in Aug (Flat).
Manjam (IRE) (9-4) In touch, went 2nd 4f out, outpaced final 2f, 6th of 9, 7l behind Berenice Pancrisia (9-1) at Saint-Cloud 1m 6f gd in Sept (Flat).
Power Shared (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 14, 4l behind dhtrs Pertemps Networks (10-12) & Bantry Bere (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) sft.
Prideus (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Mistakes, in touch, weakened and blundered at the 5th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Mamlook (11-5) at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (2) gs, 12 ran.
Pleasurable 100-1 (10-10) Tracked winner until 3rd, ridden, outpaced before 3 out, kept on to take 3rd flat, 3rd of 11, 15l behind Its Moon (11-2) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gf.
