mid-division, headway 4th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, held approaching last
in touch, led 5th, edged left approaching last, driven out
towards rear, ridden from 3 out, stayed on
in touch, ridden 3 out, chasing leading pair when mistake 2 out, weakened
prominent, ridden 4th, weakened after 3 out
mid-division and keen, weakening when fell 4th
led, headed 4th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
towards rear, ridden and pulled up before 5th
mid-division, ridden and weakened 4 out
tracked leader, led briefly 4th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
mid-division, ridden 4th, weakened 3 out
in rear and detached when jumped left and unseated rider 4th
mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, some late progress
Tritonix has done little wrong since switched to hurdles by trainer Phillip Hobbs with wins at Bangor and Huntingdon prior to finding just Katchit too good at Cheltenham when last seen in December and a reproduction of that form should see him defy his penalties with the main threats looking to be James Caird and Master Mahogany. The last mentioned has been highly tried of late and may appreciate the return to novice company but he faces no easy task under his penalties so may be best watched. Hearthstead Wings, a stablemate of the selection, looks the clear second string from the Hobbs yard, while Always Baileys ran promisingly on his hurdling debut at Ludlow having lost his way on the level but this looks tougher. Sotelo could be of interest on his British debut, although more solid claims are probably held by the Mark Tompkins-trained James Caird, who is sure to have been well schooled. Tritonix has the proven form over hurdles though and he looks the one that they all have to beat.
Master Mahogany 8-1 (11-9) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 10l behind Jericho III (10-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Tritonix (IRE) 13-8fav (11-7) Held up mid-division, headway after 3 out to track leaders, effort approaching last, soon one pace, 3rd of 12, 14l behind Katchit (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Hearthstead Wings 6-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 17th of 21, well behind Climate Change (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
James Caird (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Prominent, chased leaders 3f out, soon ridden, no impression over 1f out, 4th of 11, 2l behind Awatuki (8-10) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb (Flat).
Naval Attache 12-1 (11-1) Detached when pulled up 2 out in race won by Olivino (11-2) at N Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Aug, 5 ran.
Sotelo (9-6) Led to over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 6, 7l behind Inambari (8-7) at Hamburg 1m 3f hcp gd in Jul (Flat).
Always Baileys (IRE) 66-1 (9-11) In touch, ridden approaching 3 out, chased winner last, kept on, 2nd of 16, 7l behind I'm So Lucky (11-1) at Ludlow 2m nov hdl (4) gs.
Webbswood Lad (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakened after, 5th of 13, 35l behind My Turn Now (11-6) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
