held up in rear, headway when not fluent 8th, went 2nd before pecking 2 out, no impression on winner, not fluent last, kept on
tracked leaders, jumped right and not fluent 1st, went 2nd before 6th, mistake next, 3rd and beaten 2 out, soon weakened
mostly jumped well, made all, clear after 2 out, easily
tracked winner until before 6th, outpaced 3 out, blundered 2 out, soon weakened
chased leaders on outside, raced freely, stumbled 5th, not fluent next, last 7th, weakened and jumped left 8th, tailed off
MCGROARTY (NAP) impressed with the way he jumped and travelled at Huntingdon last week and a penalty may not be enough to prevent a quick follow-up, though this is a slightly better race. The Dubai Way rattled up a sequence in bumpers and hurdles last season before finding Grade 3 company too hot at Sandown in March. He has already won a point-to-point so the switch to fences shouldn’t be a problem and he rates a danger. Otter Moon should also make a chaser but Flashing Glance was occasionally clumsy over the smaller obstacles. Marmont may need to drop a few pounds based on his hurdles form.
Flashing Glance 11-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, jumped left 9th, well held 3rd when blundered 3 out, tailed off, 3rd of 7, 31 1/4l behind Cultivator (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f (4) gd in Sep.
Otter Moon 8-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, effort after 3 out, never on terms, weakened flat, 8th of 13, 15 1/2l behind Midnight Maestro (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in May.
Mcgroarty (IRE) 11-4fav (11-5) Tracked leader, disputed lead from 7th, led 4 out, clear when went left 2 out and again last, stayed on, comfortably, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Sad Eyed Dylan (11-0) by 15l, 5 ran.
The Dubai Way (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, lost place after 2nd, mistake 3 out, mistake and well beaten 2 out, 8th of 17, 29 3/4l behind Sam's Gunner (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Marmont 9-2 (11-10) Chased leader until after 4th, chased leaders, went 2nd again before last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Hollywood Ken (11-12) at Chepstow 2m hcp (4) sft in Apr.