tracked leading pair on inside, went 2nd at the last, led and edged left run-in, driven out
led and set steady pace, increased tempo from 6th, joined when went left and pecked 2 out, headed run-in, no extra and lost 2nd final 100 yards
held up in 5th, some headway into 4th place 6th, never on terms with leading trio, ridden and weakened after 3 out
held up in last pair, never a factor, tailed off
well in rear, jumped slowly 1st, not fluent 4th, stumbled badly 5th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
tracked leader and keen at times, went left 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, lost 2nd at the last, squeezed through on inside to chase winner final 100 yards and closed, just held
raced keenly, tracked leaders in 4th on outside, jumped big 3rd, dropped to 5th place 6th, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
Birds Of Prey, rated 92 on the Flat, was odds-on for his first two starts over timber on this track but narrowly beaten in both. He managed to gain his first success over the course and distance last month but has to concede lumps of weight to BARBADOS BLUE, which may prove beyond him. Nicky Henderson's mare won a Warwick bumper by 15 lengths last May and didn't reappear until November on the same track when making her debut over timber. She found all sorts of trouble in-running that day and couldn't hold Definitelyanoscar but the remainder were well beaten and she can go one better. On The Slopes has been highly tried since his hurdling debut success at Fontwell and this is his grade but the remaining trio look to be fighting for fourth place.
Birds Of Prey (IRE) 8-13fav (11-2) Keen in mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders 3rd, slightly hampered 3 out, challenged last, squeezed through gap on outside and stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Taunton 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Mar beating Kauto The King (11-2) by nk, 12 ran.
On The Slopes 33-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, pushed along on outside before 2 out, soon beaten, 10th of 18, 11 1/4l behind Third Wind (11-5) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Dadsinluck 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, took keen hold, not fluent 5th, soon behind, last of 10, dist behind Sofia's Rock (11-6) at Ludlow 2m (4) gs in Mar.
Outlaw Jack (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off, last of 10, dist behind Dolphin Square (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Mar.
Sir Mix 10-1 (12-0) Bd 1, at Chipley Park 3m mdn in Jan.
Barbados Blue (IRE) 2-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, jumped right 1st, challenged after 3 out, led before next, stumbled on landing 2 out, headed before last, held flat, 2nd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Definitelyanoscar (10-12) at Warwick 2m mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Gaelic Surprise 25-1 (10-5) Chased clear leaders, lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out, at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mdn (4) gd in Aug.
