tracked clear leader, took closer order 4 out, soon driven to challenge, stayed on same pace approaching last
held up, driven after 4 out, headway into 4th 2 out, never on terms
in touch, headway 5 out, led after next, strongly challenged when mistake 3 out, not fluent last, stayed on well closing stages
chased leaders, under pressure 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
chased leaders, lost place after 2nd, headway 4 out, every chance 3 out, mistake next, kept on same pace
led, soon clear, mistake 1st, not fluent 4 out, soon headed and weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, tailed off after 5 out, pulled up after next
Dark Lochnager, a consistent sort on the level who won over 1m2f at Chester last July, is an interesting newcomer to hurdles. He had a higher rating than TAVUS on the Flat but the latter beat a subsequent Grade 2 winner on his hurdling debut at Newcastle. He didn’t fare as well in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow last time but his experience and proven stamina could be telling factors in this. Cawthorne Lad was seven lengths ahead of Gordalan when making it third-time lucky over timber at Catterick but carries a penalty. Coup De Gold won a Catterick maiden when a 40/1 chance last month but this looks a lot tougher. Burnage Boy was second here and at Catterick either side of a poor run at Musselburgh and has place claims again.
Cawthorne Lad 11-4 (10-12) Tracked leader 2nd until before 4th, handy 3rd, hit 3 out, 2nd again on long run before 2 out, led 2 out, clear before last, hung left and ridden run-in, stayed on strongly, won at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Jan beating Silkstone (10-12) by 3 3/4l, 8 ran.
Coup De Gold (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Held up behind, headway under pressure after 3 out, went close 2nd approaching next, soon challenged, upsides last, ridden to lead narrowly flat, held on, won at Catterick 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Dec beating Quart De Garde (11-7) by nk, 9 ran.
Tavus (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Not that fluent, held up towards rear, ridden and no impression when jumped left 3 out, 6th of 8, 34l behind Allmankind (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (1) hvy in Dec.
Burnage Boy (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Always prominent, pushed along when left 4th 2 out, ridden and stayed on into narrow 2nd flat, not reach winner, 2nd of 16, 1l behind Scorched Earth (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Dark Lochnagar (USA) 6-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 2f out, driven and stayed on to close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind Passion And Glory (9-3) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Oct.
Dehradun 66-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, ridden before 2 out, kept on well from last, 5th of 10, 5 1/2l behind Shall We Go Now (11-5) at Taunton 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Gordalan 28-1 (10-12) Tracked leader until 2nd, handy 3rd, 2nd again before led 4th, pushed along and headed 2 out, ridden and lost 2nd between last 2, no extra in 3rd, mistake last, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Cawthorne Lad (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Showshutai 66-1 (8-7) In rear, pushed along over 3f out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 10 1/4l behind Agravain (9-3) at Beverley 1m 4f hcp (6) gs in May.
