led, headed 3 out, soon pushed along, lost second and weakened approaching next, lost poor third last
chased leaders, slow 1st, pushed along to go second before 2 out, kept on from last, no match for winner
held up in rear, awkward 2nd, headway 4th, losing touch when mistake 3 out
chased leaders, lost place 5th, pulled up before 3 out
prominent, led 3 out, clear when mistake last, ridden flat, comfortably
towards rear, struggling when hung left after 6th, tailed off 3 out
chased leaders, dropped towards rear 6th, soon ridden, well held from 3 out
in touch, pushed along 3 out, went poor third last
WAJAAHA looks another leading chance on the card for the Byrnes team even though the New Approach gelding hasn't been seen over hurdles for some 771 days. He's shaped well over timber and comes here with no fitness issues, having performed respectably in middle distance handicaps on the Flat in recent months. City Derby showed improved form to the end of last season but has disappointed on both starts in the current campaign. However, this rates a pretty weak affair and he really should play a prominent role if all is well. It's hard to make a case for most of the field as the likes of Albert Van Ornum and China Princess have a run of pulled up efforts to their name, so maybe Intriguing Lady is worth a place on the shortlist in receipt of significant age and sex allowances.
Albert Van Ornum (FR) 13-2 (12-0) Towards rear, pulled up after 7th, at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
City Derby (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd and hit 10th, lost 2nd 12th, mistake 4 out, soon beaten, remote 4th when pulled up before 3 out, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Fitzy 100-1 (9-0) Mid-division, pushed along 3f out, weakened 1f out, last of 8, 8 1/2l behind Florence Street (9-8) at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) pol in Sep.
More Beer (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Prominent, lost place 3f out, soon pushed along, weakened 2f out, 7th of 8, 24 1/2l behind Tardree (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (5) gd in Nov.
Wajaaha (IRE) 10-3fav (10-1) Mid-division, ridden in 9th 4f out, no impression over 2f out, under pressure in 6th 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 7th of 21, 17l behind Secret Secret (8-12) at Navan 1m 6f hcp hvy in Oct.
China Princess (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Mid-division, dropped to rear and asked for effort 3 out, pulled up, at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Kalaya (IRE) 11-2 (10-2) Led, faced challenge 4 out, ridden and headed home turn, soon dropped away, 5th of 6, 23 1/4l behind Harry's Hottie (11-9) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Intriguing Lady (IRE) 50-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, shaken up after 3 out, well held when hit 2 out, 5th of 9, 31l behind Shinobi (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
