hit 1st, chased leaders until awkward and dropped rear 3rd, closer in 4th 5 out, weakened and went badly right from 4 out
hit 1st, soon tracked leaders in 4th, closer in 3rd 7th, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, ridden and closer in 2nd next, led last, stayed on well run-in
raced freely, led, went clear after 4th, reduced lead 6th, joined 4 out, blundered and headed next, mistake and lost 2nd 2 out, weakened
tracked leader, upsides 4 out, led next, ridden between last 2, headed last, stayed on same pace run-in
chased leading pair until 7th, weakened and behind 5 out, tailed off
NonRunner
Several of these are smart winning hurdlers debuting over fences. Fusil Raffles, Quick Grabim and GUMBALL were all well beaten in last year’s Christmas Hurdle at Kempton but the latter may have the edge in this with last month’s outing on the Flat at Sandown under his belt. He’s related to winning chasers in France and Philip Hobbs’ charge is taken to come out best of that useful trio. The selection’s stablemate Crooks Peak struggled on his chasing bow and is fitted with headgear today while Getariver and Dorking Boy have plenty to find on these terms.
Crooks Peak 11-2 (11-2) Held up, raced keenly, closed 3rd, not fluent 5th, lost place 9th, well beaten from 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, dist behind Darling Maltaix (11-2) at Stratford 2m 3f (4) gd in Sep.
Fusil Raffles (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear on outside, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 17, 26l behind Epatante (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Gumball (FR) 3-1fav (10-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and unable to quicken inside final 2f, plugged on in 4th final furlong, 4th of 12, 6 1/4l behind Seinesational (9-4) at Sandown 1m 6f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Quick Grabim (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Led, quickened 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 6, 15 1/2l behind Song For Someone (11-2) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Feb.
Getariver (IRE) 13-8fav (10-11) Made all, quickened clear over 2f out, stayed on, ridden out, won at Wolverhampton 2m 1f (4) pol in Feb beating Sunny Express (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Dorking Boy 8-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 15, 24 1/2l behind Nordano (10-0) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
