tracked clear leader, close up 5th, led when not fluent 3 out, shaken up when pressed next, driven and kept on flat
held up in rear, headway to track leading pair 6th, went 2nd after 3 out, upsides next, kept on until ridden and one pace flat
chased leaders, dropped toward rear after 3rd, struggling 6th, plugged on to take remote 4th approaching last, no chance with leaders
held up in touch, outpaced by leading trio 3 out, went modest 3rd approaching next, no chance with front pair
tracked clear leader, close up 5th, led before next, headed 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened before next, tailed off
led, clear until wandered approaching 5th, headed before next, soon lost place, behind when fell 3 out
held up in touch, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
JACKS LAST HOPE has already won two bumpers this year and split a couple of potentially useful Nicky Henderson novices on his hurdling debut at Aintree. He will be a short price to go one better here against modest opposition and can't be opposed. Winning pointer Not A Bother Boy has shown nothing so far under Rules while Royal Sea Breeze also has a lot to prove. Valentine's Gift did win twice on the Flat last year but recent form has been less impressive.
Jacks Last Hope 13-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, went 2nd after last, soon every chance, held close home, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Hunters Hoof (10-11) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Mixboy (FR) 25-1 (10-7) Led, headed over 6f out, weakened 3f out, 14th of 18, 42l behind Double W's (11-0) at Ayr 2m NH flat (6) gs in Oct.
Not A Bother Boy (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) Mid-division, lost place before 6th, soon behind, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Monbeg Theatre (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Politbureau 100-1 (10-12) Midfield, weakened before 5 out, behind when pulled up 3 out, in a race won by One Track Mind (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft, 13 ran.
Royal Sea Breeze (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Held up mid-division, headway before 7th, ridden after 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 7th of 13, 41l behind Lochnell (10-0) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs.
Valentine's Gift 6-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, never a factor, 7th of 9, 16l behind Card High (11-2) at Nottingham 1m 2f am hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Oct (flat).
William Wild 200-1 (10-7) Behind, struggling 5th, tailed off next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by One Track Mind (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft, 13 ran.
