in touch, tracked leaders 6th, led 2 out, driven and all out flat
towards rear, pushed along 4 out, never on terms
raced wide towards rear, pushed along 4 out, ridden and some headway 2 out, never nearer
towards rear, headway 4th, ridden 3 out, weakened next
prominent, bumped 2nd, led next, headed 5th, tracked leader, pushed along when left 2nd at last, driven and ran on flat, not quite reach winner
prominent, blundered 3rd, lost place 6th
raced wide prominent, led 5t, headed 2 out, still every chance when fell next
in rear, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leading trio 2 out, left 3rd at last
led, jumped right 2nd, headed next, tracked leaders, weakened 3 out, pulled up next
None stand out on recent form though a couple are clear at the weights. Both Iron Heart and TRUE ROMANCE placed in handicaps at Worcester during the summer but the latter was beaten by a subsequent Grade 2 novice hurdle winner on that occasion and should go close if running up to the same level. Vision Clear and Offaly Star are weighted to beat maiden hurdle runner-up Vanderbilt while Yaazaain placed in a seller at Newton Abbot in September.
Iron Heart 22-1 (11-3) Held up midfield, ridden before 3 out, no extra 3 out, 9th of 12, dist behind Blenkinsop (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Bert Saxby (IRE) 14-1 (12-2) Mid-div best, 8th from 6th, mstk 5out, wknd & drpd to last aftr 4out, kpt gng, 8th of 15, 31 1/2l behind Thomas Mor (12-2) at Bartlemy 3m mdn gd in May.
Lord Bill (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Chased leader until 2nd, chased leaders on inside, mistake 6th, soon pushed along and weakened, tailed off when mistake 2 out, pulled up soon after, at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Octavius Sabini (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Raced on inside in 3rd, not fluent 5th, hung left and lost 3rd before 3 out where mistake and weakened, 5th of 6, 29 1/4l behind Not What It Seems (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
Offaly Star (IRE) 2-1 (11-11) Ld, mstk 2nd, ran off bend aftr 8th & drpd to 20l 3rd, brfly clsr 5out, mstk 4out & sn struggling, 3rd of 4, dist behind Clatterbridge (11-11) at Stradbally 3m mdn gd in May.
True Romance (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Midfield, headway when short of room 3f out, ridden 2f out, made no impression, 5th of 11, 17l behind Cavendish (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Vanderbilt (IRE) 17-2 (11-4) Led, not fluent 6th, hit next, ridden between last 2, joined last, headed and not pace of winner run-in, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 3, 1 1/2l behind Lallygag (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f mdn (4) gf in Oct.
Vision Clear (GER) 100-1 (10-9) Off the pace and always rear-division, 16th of 17, dist behind Mrs Meader (10-10) at Newbury 1m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Oct.
Yaazaain 13-2 (10-8) Mid-division out wide, weakened after 5th, tailed off, 8th of 10, dist behind Herecomeshogan (12-2) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (5) gf in Oct.
No Reaction (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Mid-division, pushed along home turn, weakened before last, 9th of 13, 35 1/4l behind Cabayo Lady (10-10) at Worcester 2m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
