took keen hold early, always towards rear, struggling after 5th, tailed off
chased winner, challenged 3 out, narrow lead before next, hit last and narrowly headed, edged left under pressure and kept on same pace run-in
mid-division, behind from 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
led, went right 2nd, joined 3 out, ridden and narrowly heade before 2 out, stayed upsides, led narrowly again last, stayed on gamely under pressure run-in
mid-division, headway into 4th approaching 5th, pushed along and strugging after 5th, no chance when weakened into 5th approaching 2 out
always towards rear, never involved
towards rear, plugged on under pressure into modest 4th approaching 2 out
always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off
chased leading trio until before 5th, weakened soon after, fell 3 out
chased leading pair throughout, ridden one pace and no chance before 2 out
The suspicion remains that John Louis is not at his best in testing ground after he failed to land the odds at Lingfield last month. ASTRUM was pulled up on his reappearance back in November but his yard is in much better form now. Donald McCain's charge should be in the mix with a repeat of his second at Sandown last season and is also preferred to Seymour Star. The latter does encounter heavy going for the first time here having shown improvement at Towcester last time but bumper winner Masterplan continues to struggle over hurdles.
Apples And Trees (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out, 7th of 13, 43l behind Mantou (10-7) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Astrum 5-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, led after 4th, headed 3 out, ridden and lost place before 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Divine Port (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov, 8 ran.
Giveimachance (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden and struggling after 6th, soon behind, pulled up after, in a race won by Kylemore Lough (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec, 17 ran.
John Louis 8-11fav (11-4) Took keen hold in touch, chased leaders 3 out, effort next, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 20l behind Mr Fitzroy (10-11) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Masterplan (IRE) 10-3 (11-6) Tracked leaders and keen, pushed along and weakened before 2 out, 8th of 9, 44l behind Hainan (10-7) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Maz Majecc (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear and keen, went 4th over 3f out, one pace and no impression, 5th of 8, 44l behind Another Bill (11-12) at Ayr 2m NH flat (6) hvy.
Quintano (GER) 50-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 4th, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 10, 39l behind Lough Derg Walk (11-6) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft.
Seymour Star 50-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders on inside, lost place after 4th, mistake 2 out, plugged on, no impression, 5th of 11, 13l behind Tea For Two (10-11) at Towcester 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Dec.
Siobhans Beauty (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, one pace after 3 out, no impression before next, well beaten when went left at last, 7th of 13, 42l behind Pain Au Chocolat (10-7) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
The Wexfordian (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place and jumped slowly 6th, closed 8th, mistake 10th, weakening when jumped right 4 out, tailed off when jumped right again next, soon pulled up, in a race won by Saphir Du Rheu (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (2) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
