led, headed 3 out, ridden next, weakened last
raced wide towards rear, headway when bumped 3 out, ridden and every chance next, kept on one pace
in touch, ridden 3 out, weakened next
in touch, headway when edged right 3 out, every chance next, ridden to lead at last, driven out
tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden headed last, stayed on
towards rear, ridden and headway 2 out, never nearer
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place 3 out
close up, bumped and hampered 3 out, weakened next
towards rear, headway to track leaders 3 out, ridden and stayed on towards finish
Drumconnor Lad has a much higher rating over fences but hasn’t raced over hurdles in more than a year. Ornua is also better known as a chaser but HAAFAPIECE has won four times over the smaller obstacles, including over a longer trip here in October. He placed twice over this trip here last season so there are no concerns about the drop in distance and Jack Andrews takes off 5lb again. Benny's Bridge has plummeted down the weights but still looks out of sorts and Romeo Brown looks a bigger danger. He is still well treated on past form, despite a 14lb hike for an effortless victory at Hexham. No Risk Des Flos has disappointed twice since scoring at Southwell in March.
Ornua (IRE) 11-5 (12-0) Led, not fluent 4 out, joined approaching straight, soon headed, no extra in 3rd approaching 2 out, 3rd of 4, 20 1/2l behind The Getaway Star (11-2) at Limerick 2m 4f gd in Jul.
Haafapiece 15-2 (11-10) Raced in last, headway in to mid-division home turn, ridden to chase front pair 2 out, left in second 2 out, pressed leader run-in, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Our Surprise (11-3) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Lignou (FR) 50-1 (10-9) Towards rear, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, never on terms, last of 8, 24 1/4l behind Tommy's Oscar (11-1) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
No Risk Des Flos (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Mid-division, pushed along in 4th after 3 out, mistake next, weakened soon after, 7th of 10, dist behind Haddex Des Obeaux (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Drumconnor Lad (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Prominent until 2nd, chased leaders, outpaced from 5th, well beaten before 4 out, left 4th 3 out, left 2nd 2 out, plugged on, 3rd of 7, 7 3/4l behind Sao (11-3) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Benny's Bridge (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) In rear, mistake 6th, headway on outside home turn, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, never in contention, last of 6, 15 1/2l behind First Impression (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Perfect Man (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Mid division, pushed along and weakened home turn, tailed off, 6th of 8, 30 1/4l behind Earlofthecotswolds (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Laskadine (FR) 22-1 (11-11) Prominent, mistake 5 out and weakened, tailed off, last of 10, dist behind Volkovka (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Romeo Brown 11-2 (10-6) Prominent, headway travelling well 2 out, led and ridden before last, went clear, impressive, won at Hexham 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Serious Ego (11-7) by 14l, 14 ran.
