mid-division, not fluent 5 out, headway to dispute lead 4 out, ridden and hard pressed 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra from last
held up, headway tracking leaders 3 out, led going well 2 out, ridden clear from last, comfortably
chased leader, pushed along and weakened rapidly approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division out wide, headway upside leader 3 out, every chance 2 out, soon pushed along and outpaced, weakened last
in rear, pulled hard early, headway under pressure tracking leaders 3 out, could not go pace of leader before last, stayed on strongly run-in for 2nd
led, headed approaching 4 out, pushed along and weakened home turn, pulled up after 3 out when blundered
handy on inner, disputed lead going okay 3 out, soon pushed along and outpaced, not fluent last, kept on flat in distant 3rd
Serious Operator has had a wind operation since failing to fire in a Class 2 at Cheltenham in October. Placed in a point then in a bumper, Had To Be Hugo has the credentials to make a hurdler but HENRY’S FRIEND sets the bar pretty high on his second to Henri The Second in a Grade 2 at Sandown when he reversed earlier Aintree running with the well-regarded Man At Work.
Henry's Friend (IRE) 17-2 (11-2) Tracked leader until pushed along and led before 2 out, ridden between last two, headed last, stayed on same pace run-in, well held, 2nd of 6, 4 1/4l behind Henri The Second (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
Serious Operator (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, close 3rd 8th, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 6, dist behind Shearer (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Oct.
Army's Dream (IRE) 125-1 (11-4) In rear, behind 4 out, pulled up next, at Newcastle 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Bleu D'enfer (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders on inner, 3rd halfway, switched to outer after 3 out, mistake 2 out, pushed along and dropped to 6th at last, no impression, kept on one pace, 5th of 7, 13 1/4l behind Ifiwerearichman (11-10) at Down Royal 2m 1f mdn sft in Dec.
Had To Be Hugo (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Led, headed and tracked leader before halfway, led again 5f out, pushed along well over 2f out, headed and hampered over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on, 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Boy De La Vis (11-2) at Newcastle 2m (5) gs in Dec.
Largy Train 150-1 (11-0) Towards rear, lost touch 4 out, pulled up, at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gd in Dec.
Star Flyer (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Led, hit 4 out, ridden headed and weakened before 2 out, finished tired, 8th of 10, dist behind Authorised Speed (11-5) at Sandown 2m (2) sft in Dec.
