held up in rear, pushed along before 7th, outpaced before 3 out, plugged on one pace from last
midfield, dropped to last and slightly hampered after 6th, ridden after 3 out, made no impression
pressed leader from 1st, dived and led briefly 7th, led 3 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden and went clear approaching last, ran on well flat, comfortably
held up in rear, made some headway 6th, pushed along after 3 out, no extra from 2 out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 4th, niggled along before 3 out, went second flat but no match for winner
chased leaders, overjumped 1st, pecked 5th, weakening when fell 3 out
raced in touch, dropped to rear 4th, pushed along after 6th, struggling before 3 out, plugged on to grab fourth after last
led, headed briefly 7th, headed 3 out, ridden for effort before last, lost second flat
C’EST LE BONHEUR is proving hard to place but has shown a decent level of form in his last three outings and the champion is happy to keep his partnership with Richard Newland’s eight-year-old intact so he can go one better than over track and trip 12 days ago. Hereford runner-up Hurricane Mitch doesn’t have much to find on the form book, however, and has more scope while the switch to hurdles will suit the jumps-bred Swedishhorsemafia, who has had just one run in a bumper. Winning pointer Ask The Question should make a chaser in time.
Ask The Question (IRE) Evens (11-10) Ww; led 2 out; qcknd clr flat, won at Dalton Park 3m mdn sft in Mar beating Anticur (12-0) by 9l, 3 ran.
Breaking The Ice (IRE) 300-1 (10-12) Led narrowly, headed 2nd, ridden and weakened quickly after 3 out, tailed off from 2 out, 8th of 12, dist behind Here Comes Johny (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov.
C'Est Le Bonheur (FR) 5-4 (11-0) Raced on inside, tracked leader, led after 5th, hit 2 out, ridden and pressed between last 2, headed approaching and not much room last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 10, 4 1/4l behind African Dance (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Euro Fou (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway into midfield 5th, ridden after 2 out, faded before last, 6th of 10, 23 3/4l behind Lady Villanelle (10-5) at Hexham 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Hurricane Mitch (IRE) 13-8 (11-0) Led 2nd, headed after 6th, mistake 2 out, still every chance last, looked awkward and held flat, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Presentedwithwings (11-0) at Hereford 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Ifyoucareshare 50-1 (11-2) Mid-division, weakened over 5f out, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Easy As That (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m (5) sft in Feb.
Stitch Up (IRE) 80-1 (11-0) Towards rear, pushed along bypassing omitted 7th, headway before 3 out, plugged on approaching next, 4th of 10, dist behind African Dance (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Swedishhorsemafia (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Led narrowly, ridden turning for home, headed entering home straight but still in touch, no extra close home, 4th of 9, at Hereford 2m (5) gd in Oct.