raced wide, led and went clear after 3rd, reduced lead before 4 out, headed before next, soon weakened, tailed off
waited with in rear, headway when hit 4 out, chased leaders home turn, cajoled along before 2 out, ridden and no extra in 4th when mistake last, weakened into 5th final 100 yards
chased leaders, went 2nd 5th led before 3 out, headed 3 out, chased leader, ridden to lead again run-in, headed and no extra final 150 yards
raced on inside, chased leader who went clear after 3rd, closer before 4th, bad mistake and lost place next, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
raced keenly, held up, good headway 5th, led 3 out, mistake last, headed and no extra in 3rd run-in
chased leaders out wide, ridden approaching last, led final 150 yards, stayed on well
mid-division, hit 4 out, plugged on into modest 4th final 100 yards
mid-division, dropped to last pair before 4 out, tailed off
UNCLE ARTHUR debuts for a new yard having won a claiming hurdle at Ludlow. But this doesn’t look much tougher and he may prove worth sticking with. Prince Nino was winning over longer trips at Perth earlier while Neigh Botha returns to the smaller obstacles still looking for a first win over hurdles. Glory Bridge placed on good ground early in the year and may prove a threat on his reappearance with a conditional taking 7lb off his back.
Batman For Ever (GER) 80-1 (11-2) Off the pace in last pair, reminders after 3rd, not fluent 6th, behind and struggling before next, tailed off, last of 9, dist behind City Derby (10-8) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Neigh Botha (IRE) 6-5fav (10-7) Jumped left in rear, not fluent 2nd, bad mistake 4 out, soon pushed along, weakened, last of 4, 29 1/4l behind Mint Gold (12-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Glory Bridge (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Prominent on inside, mistake 1st, lost place after 4th, not fluent next, well beaten 6th, pulled up after, at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Apr.
Prince Nino (FR) 4-1 (10-6) Prominent, pushed along and lost position home turn, ridden and dropped away after 2 out, 4th of 7, 15 1/2l behind Harper Valley (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Uncle Arthur 11-10fav (10-10) Close up, tracked leaders 3 out, ridden and every chance last, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Dec beating Iddergem (11-0) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Ferrybridge (IRE) 9-4 (11-4) Led until 3rd, lost 2nd after 4th, went 2nd before 6th until after 3 out, 3rd and no chance with winner 2 out, 3rd of 4, 30 3/4l behind Jack's A Legend (11-11) at Southwell 2m hcp (5) hvy in Nov.
Hide Out (IRE) 28-1 (10-13) Mid-division, pushed along and no response before 2 out, 6th of 10, 11 1/4l behind El Jefe (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
A Cheap Thrill (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden and weakened 3 out, 8th of 9, 23 1/2l behind Belle Na Bann (10-7) at Newcastle 2m 1f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
