chased leader, hit 3 out, led 2 out, ridden and no extra when headed towards finish
led, ridden after 3 out, blundered and headed 2 out, not recover
held up in rear, mistakes 2nd and 5th, pushed along and short-lived effort 3 out
held up, hit 3rd, headway after 5th, shaken up after 3 out, reminder after 2 out, every chance when blundered badly last, not recover
prominent until weakened approaching 3 out
held up and behind, niggled along and struggling after 5th
held up, headway approaching 5th, not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced, rallied before last, ridden and edged left flat, stayed on to lead towards finish
blundered and unseated rider 1st
Flash De Clerval won easily at Leicester last time but it was only a maiden hurdle and he still has plenty to find with the returning ADJUTANT on these terms. The latter’s double penalty is reduced by a conditional’s allowance and Olly Murphy’s charge has already defied a penalty in novice company when winning at Stratford during the summer. Our Promise is preferred to Billy Ray on a third here a fortnight ago but bumper winner Dusty's Choice may prove a bigger threat now hurdling as he’s a half-brother to a couple of winners over timber.
Adjutant 9-2fav (11-10) Held up in touch, headway and going for run when not much room on inside after 2 out, disputing 2nd between last 2, 2nd at the last until run-in, weakened towards finish, 4th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Chieftain's Choice (10-13) at Stratford 2m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Flash De Clerval (FR) 11-8 (11-0) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 3 out, led before 2 out, very easily, won at Leicester 2m mdn (3) hvy in Dec beating Overtrumped (10-7) by 23l, 7 ran.
Billy Ray 16-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, wandered approaching 3rd, headway 3 out, went 3rd last, no chance with winner, 3rd of 11, 29l behind Bullionaire (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) hvy in Dec.
Dusty's Choice (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, held up mid-division on inside, driven to chase leaders turning in, ridden over 1f out, never on terms, weakened final furlong, last of 8, 16 1/2l behind Israel Champ (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Holme Abbey 28-1 (10-12) Close up, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 12, dist behind Young Bull (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
Kilrush Getaway (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, weakened over 4f out, tailed off, 11th of 14, dist behind Aire Valley Lad (11-0) at Newcastle 2m (5) sft in Dec.
Off The Beat 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out to next, weakened last, 8th of 12, 18 3/4l behind Big Bad Bear (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
Our Promise 9-2 (10-5) Not fluent virtually throughout, held up behind on outside, headway before 3 out, chased front pair before next, soon ridden and outpaced, kept on flat, no impression, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Lemon T (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
