made all, left clear 2 out, easily
held up towards rear, took keen hold, pushed along 4th, modest headway 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway 5th, left 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, kept on
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3rd, not fluent 3 out, ridden and 1 1/2 lengths down when fell 2 out
held up in rear, slightly hampered 2 out, never involved
chased winner until not fluent 3rd, ridden and beaten when left 3rd 2 out, stayed on same pace
in touch in mid-division, slow and lost place 5th, left well held 4th when hampered 2 out, slow jump last
SAINT SEGAL looks the one to beat in this. A maiden hurdle winner, he ran well for second without threatening the winner in the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle Final at Chepstow last month and looks a cut above these. Thunder Ahead is a likely improver having faded away on his hurdling bow while Winterwatch didn’t get very far at Hereford before unseating and Hasty Parisian placed in a bumper at Exeter last time. Jaramillo makes his hurdling debut for new connections having won on the Flat at Newcastle in October.
Saint Segal (FR) 13-2 (11-0) Towards rear, mid-division after 4th, went 3rd before 3 out, pressed leader before 2 out, ridden after 2 out, soon well held by winner, kept on, 2nd of 11, 8 1/2l behind Porticello (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Dragon's Fire 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, lost ground on rival from 4th, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 10, dist behind Dr T J Eckleburg (10-12) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Hasty Parisian (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Midfield, ridden 3f out, headway 2f out, with leaders 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Astronomic View (11-6) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (5) hvy in Jan.
Jaramillo 4-1 (9-7) In touch, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, carried head awkwardly, ridden and ran on, won at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Oct beating Italian Breeze (8-13) by 4 1/4l, 8 ran.
Lifesjustaflicker 7-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, weakened from 2 out, pulled up before last, at Cagnes-sur-Mer 2m sft in Dec.
Thunder Ahead 11-4 (10-12) In touch, pushed along 3 out, never a factor, 5th of 7, 13l behind Kayfast Warrior (10-12) at Wetherby 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Winterwatch (GER) 16-5 (11-0) Held up and behind, raced keenly, not jump well 1st or 2nd, jinked about and unseated rider 3rd, at Hereford 2m mdn (4) gs in Jan.