soon chasing leader, led and hit 3 out, headed last, ridden and no extra flat
held up, headway approaching 7th, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and went 3rd approaching last, kept on same pace flat
held up and behind, hit 1st, headway approaching 7th, weakened 3 out
led, jumped slowly 4th, headed 3 out, weakened before 2 out
prominent, steadied and lost place after 1st, behind from 4th, lost touch 5th, tailed off
held up, pushed along after 7th, soon lost touch
always in touch, went 2nd before 2 out, hard ridden to lead last, driven out
always in rear, pushed along and struggling approaching 3 out
Orrisdale ended last season with victory in a bumper at Bangor and Eglantier made a winning start in bumpers at Fontwell in March. Captain Blackpearl finished runner-up in a point-to-point at the start of the year and debuts under Rules but WITNESS PROTECTION has the form over hurdles. Martin Keighley’s charge finished a close-up second in soft ground at Ayr on his debut over timber and can go one better with a conditional’s 5lb allowance helping his cause in this.
Captain Blackpearl 6-1 (11-11) Rr, fair 13th 1/2way, prog frm 4out, 3rd aftr 3out, 2l 2nd bef last where mstk, no ch with wnr early flat, kow, 2nd of 17, 3l behind Getaway Pat (12-2) at Dungarvan 3m mdn sft in Jan.
Craic Magic (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, every chance 4f out, soon pushed along, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Induno (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m mdn (4) sft in Oct.
Debden Bank 66-1 (10-12) Towards rear, went poor 4th 2 out, never on terms, 4th of 9, 21 1/4l behind Lantiern (10-12) at Southwell 2m (4) sft in Oct.
Eglantier (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Led, pushed along and headed 2f out, ridden over 1f out, led again inside final furlong, all out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f (5) hvy in Mar beating Lily The Pink (11-2) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
First Man (IRE) 150-1 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 11th of 16, dist behind Olly The Brave (11-0) at Hereford 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Furius De Ciergues (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, closed after 4th, lost place before 6th, 10th of 11, dist behind Ballinsker (10-12) at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Orrisdale (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway over 5f out, soon chasing leaders, led entering final furlong, ran on well, won at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (5) gd in Apr beating Don't Shout (11-4) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Tybielass 100-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, lost place over 2f out, 8th of 15, 23 3/4l behind Mystic Dreamer (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (2) gd in Apr.
Witness Protection (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Led 3rd, ridden 2 out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 16, 1 1/4l behind Corrieben Reiver (10-12) at Ayr 2m (4) sft in Oct.
