never travelled in rear, outpaced and struggling 3 out, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, pushed along and weakened tamely before 2 out where mistake, tailed off
wore hood to post, off the pace in last trio, last pair and struggling before 2 out, tailed off
wore hood to post, led and jumped left most of way, pushed along before 2 out, narrowly headed last, weakened and lost two places run-in
held up in last trio, headway on inside after 3 out, stayed on run-in, went 2nd final 100 yards, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, went 3rd and stepped at 2 out, went 2nd run-in, weakened into 3rd final 100 yards
raced keenly, soon steadied into 5th, headway tracking leaders 3 out, going well in 2nd before 2 out, hit 2 out, led approaching and hit last, given reminder, hung left into whip run-in, stayed on well
wore hood to post, tracked leader until 4th, chased leaders, weakened quickly and pulled up before 2 out
Colonel Harry is clearly improving and one of two course and distance winners in the line-up. The other is AUTHORISED SPEED, arguably the best bumper horse in the UK last season. Gary Moore’s charge still needs to brush up his jumping but clearly has an engine and can inflict a first defeat over hurdles on likely market rival Tahmuras. L'Astroboy is the only horse to so far get the better of the latter and he will improve on a winning hurdling debut at Ffos Las with Cork winner Arctic Bresil also interesting. Blow Your Wad could be best of the rest but all of these will likely win more races in the future.
Arctic Bresil 11-8 (11-12) Led narrowly, headed after 1st and tracked leader, disputed lead at 2nd, led after 4th, not fluent at 5th, not fluent 2 out, soon asserted, ran on strongly run-in, comfortably, won at Cork 2m 1f mdn Yielding - Soft in Dec beating Mercurey (11-12) by 5 1/2l, 22 ran.
Authorised Speed (FR) 1-3fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led travelling well before 2 out, 4 lengths ahead going strongly when bad mistake last, soon recovered and kept on well, won at Sandown 2m (2) sft in Dec beating Immortal (11-0) by 6 1/2l, 10 ran.
Blow Your Wad (IRE) 4-11fav (11-0) Chased leaders on inside, going well when hit 3 out, led last, edged left briefly run-in, driven out, won at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Nov beating Carrigdoun Boy (11-0) by 1l, 10 ran.
Colonel Harry (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Made all, ridden and went clear from 2 out, stayed on well from last, won at Sandown 2m mdn (4) hvy in Nov beating Uncle Bert (11-4) by 7l, 11 ran.
L'astroboy (GER) 6-4fav (11-4) Chased clear leader, disputed lead before 5th, led 3 out, pushed along and drifted left after 2 out, not fluent and jumped right last, ridden and ran on well flat, readily, won at Ffos Las 2m mdn (4) sft in Nov beating Inedit Star (11-4) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
Nemean Lion (GER) 10-3 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, hit 2 out, pushed along and went clear with winner from 2 out, ridden and no telling impression run-in, 2nd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Hullnback (11-2) at Haydock 2m (2) sft in Nov.
Tahmuras (FR) 7-4fav (11-2) Prominent, not fluent 2nd, nudged along before 3 out, headway to challenge and led 2 out, went clear last, ran on strongly flat, comfortably, won at Haydock 2m lst (1) sft in Nov beating Sizing Pottsie (11-2) by 5 1/2l, 5 ran.
Ukantango (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Wore hood to post, prominent in chasing group, headway out wide before the last (normal 2 out), went 2nd home turn, led and hung left bypassing last, headed and no extra final 270 yards, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Fennor Cross (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Nov.
