held up in mid-division, good headway on bit 4f out, challenged 3f out, led 1f out, shaken up and went clear final furlong, impressively
held up towards rear, good headway 4f out, kept on well from 2f out
held up towards rear, ridden over 4f out, stayed on from 2f out
chased leader and pulled hard, saddle slipped and pulled up after 3f
mid-division, headway to chase leader 4f out, ridden 3f out, kept on same pace from 2f out
prominent, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out
in touch, ridden 7f out, weakened 4f out
mid-division, ridden 4f out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden 5f out, weakened 3f out
in touch, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, led halfway, ridden and headed over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
towards rear, ridden 7f out, weakened 3f out
held up in mid-division, ridden 6f out, weakened 3f out
led and set fast pace, soon clear, headed halfway, weakened quickly and pulled up 7f out
mid-division, headway on bit approaching 3 out, challenged and every chance over 2f out, ran on final furlong, no chance with winner
Kicks For Free is taken to defy a penalty, with Parish House, Rathcannon Man and Reflector set to give him most to do. The locals will be queuing up to back Kicks For Free here after his impressive debut under Liam Heard over the course-and-distance a month ago. He beat some nice types that day, and trainer Paul Nicholls subsequently revealed that he would be going straight for the Cheltenham Bumper in March. They think an awful lot of him at Ditcheat, and presumably he is just having a run out today to keep in trim. Normally it is hard for a horse to defy a penalty in this sphere, but on this occasion we have no reservations about nominating the five-year-old, who should give whatever turns up from the Mullins camp in March a run for their money. Henrietta Knight saddles Reflector, whose dam is a half-sister to Trabolgan, while Alan King's Rathcannon Man is related to Lambrini Mist, so both have future careers over fences no doubt. The market may well throw up a springer, but this really should be a case of money for nothing with Kicks For Free.
Kicks For Free (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Held up, smooth progress 7f out, led on bit 3f out, soon clear, won at Wincanton 2m nhf (6) sft in Jan beating Wyldello (10-5) by 10l, 12 ran.
Flight Leader (IRE) Supreme Leader gelding out of winning chaser Stormy Petrel.
It Happened Out (IRE) Accordion gelding, half-brother to winning hurdler/chaser Correct And Right.
Le Burf (FR) 66-1 (10-7) Held up, headway and stayed on well final 2f, not reach leaders, 6th of 17, 7l behind Tokala (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m nhf (H) gd in Oct.
Oscar Buck (IRE) 6th of 12, 35l behind Portalon at Athlacca 3m ptp gd in May.
Parish House (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, ridden and headed entering final furlong, soon no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Deep Reflection (11-4) at Lingfield 2m nhf (H) pol in Dec.
Rathcannon Man (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Behind, kept on final 2f, never nearer, 5th of 14, 31l behind Oscardeal (10-11) at Southwell 2m nhf (H) gd in Jan '05.
Reflector (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway halfway, chased leaders over 3f out, soon weakened, 10th of 16, 25l behind Apollo Lady (10-4) at Huntingdon 2m nhf (H) gd in Dec.
Triggernometry 6-1 (11-4) Chased leaders until weakened over 4f out, 8th of 13, 37l behind Major Miller (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 1f nhf (H) gs in Nov.
Wednesday Country (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden and weakened over 5f out, 10th of 13, 31l behind Willie Pep (11-5) at Taunton 2m 1f nhf (6) gd in Jan.
West Ridge Ridgewood Ben gelding, brother to winning bumper Ridgewood Ploy.
Hazzard A Guess 33-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, pushed long 4f out, plugged on final 2f, 6th of 12, 21l behind Colline de Fleurs (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs nhf (6) sft in Jan.
Kyliemoss 100-1 (10-4) Mid-division, bumped along 4f out, no impression, 15th of 17, well behind Pepporoni Pete (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nhf (H) gd in Dec.
Stingray (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders to 5f out, weakened rapidly, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Pressgang (11-0) at Newbury 1m 4f 4yo nhf (5) gs in Jan, 17 ran.
Stripe Me Blue Miner's Lamp gelding, half-brother to winning bumper Bling Bling.
