chased leaders, pushed along approaching 2 out, soon ridden and hung right, raced awkwardly and weakened between last 2
raced wide, chased leading pair, awkward 3 out, close 2nd soon after, ridden and well held between last 2, went left last, no chance with winner
raced keenly chasing leaders, not much room 4 out, pushed along and weakened before 2 out
always in last pair, ridden and beaten on long run to 2 out, never a factor
held up in rear, headway travelling well 3 out, every chance when mistake 2 out, 3rd and one pace between last 2
raced on inside throughout, chased leader, led after 3 out, came clear between last 2, kept on strongly, eased towards finish
led until after 3 out, weakened quickly
Snapdragon Fire went close over track and trip last month but has been raised further in the weights and is now 9lb higher than when scoring at Huntingdon earlier. A winner over hurdles in France, HIGHEST SUN (NAP) ran well at Ascot on his debut for Colin Tizzard’s yard. Better was expected behind the progressive Al Dancer at Cheltenham last time but the runner-up has subsequently won and he gets another chance in this. Peterborough won at Exeter in November but is upped in class along with Leicester runner-up The Twisler and Casa Tall may prove a bigger threat despite returning from an absence.
Snapdragon Fire (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway 3 out, chased winner next, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Our Merlin (11-2) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Highest Sun (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden approaching last, stayed on same pace, 4th of 9, 12 1/4l behind Al Dancer (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Casa Tall (FR) 6-4 (11-7) Chased leading pair, led after 3rd, clear after 3 out until approaching next, hit last and soon headed, no extra run-in, 4th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Asylo (10-12) at Perth 2m (4) sft in Apr.
Higgs (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) In touch, lost place 3 out, 7th of 12, 33 1/2l behind Coeur Blimey (10-5) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Mick Maestro (FR) 5-1 (11-9) Awkward 1st, took keen hold, held up in rear, flattened 4 out, plugged on in 4th on long run before 2 out where mistake, 4th of 7, 20 1/2l behind Fairway Freddy (11-0) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
The Twisler 7-2 (11-8) Tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, ridden and headed last, kept on, 2nd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Master Work (11-10) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gf in Dec.
Peterborough (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Pressed leader, led after 4th, pushed clear when mistake last, driven out, kept on, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Catchin Time (11-0) by 3 1/4l, 11 ran.
