tracked leader until after 1st, tracked leading pair, challenged 4 out, hit next, effort on inside 2 out, ridden and went 2nd between last 2, held when hit last
always last, outpaced before 4 out, never involved
jumped well, tracked leading pair, 2nd after 1st, led narrowly 3 out, in command last, came readily clear run-in
jumped right, led until 3 out, chased winner, chance next, lost 2nd between last two, weakened approaching last
tracked leading trio, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, kept on approaching last
Regal Encore, a dual bumper winner, scored only twice over timber but ran in very tough company and is rated 145. He hasn't done as well as expected so far over fences and he's up against potentially useful opposition. Officer Drivel landed a three-year-old maiden over hurdles at this time last year and ended a light winter campaign in Grade 1 and 2 company. He makes his chasing bow against older horses and is definitely one to keep an eye on. Cloonacool also has his first start over the bigger obstacles and the four-times hurdles winner has been in good form having landed a Listed contest at Market Rasen in September. Venetia Williams continues to fire in the winners and ZAMDY MAN could prove a smart chaser for the yard. He completed a hat-trick over timber two years ago with a Grade 2 at Haydock the highlight and though absent since behind The New One in Kempton's International Hurdle a year ago he'll be ready for this. Jumeirah Liberty looks outclassed on what he's shown over hurdles.
Cloonacool (IRE) 11-4fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out where not fluent, ridden and weakened between last two, 7th of 11, 19 1/4l behind Winner Massagot (10-4) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Jumeirah Liberty 14-1 (10-11) Towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 4th, close 3rd when mistake 2 out, 3rd and no impression before last, lost 3rd post, 4th of 11, 22l behind Vexillum (11-4) at Stratford 2m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Regal Encore (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked winner early, in 4th when fell 7th, at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Zamdy Man 7-1 (11-4) Led, ridden and headed before last, 4th and beaten when hit hurdle, weakened flat, lost 4th close home, 5th of 8, 16 3/4l behind The New One (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gs in Dec.
Officer Drivel (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Keen early, tracked leader to after 2nd, in touch on outside, lost place after 3 out, behind next, tailed off, 15th of 16, dist behind Peace And Co (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Mar.
