went left at times, off the pace in last pair, not fluent 9th, headway after 4 out, slow and outpaced 3 out, closed 2 out, 2nd from last, unable to challenge, stayed on
tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden out flat
led, pushed along and headed 3 out, not pace of front pair last, stayed on
off the pace in last pair, mistake 6th, not fluent 4 out, soon closed, weakened 3 out
TRIOPAS (NAP) has made giant strides over hurdles this season and the switch to fences shouldn’t be a problem as he has the size to make a chaser and has already been placed between the flags. Tommie O’Brien gets on well with Tom Lacey’s six-year-old, who is hard to oppose in his current mood. Cap Horner won at Lingfield last month but has struggled off higher mark since. Behind Time has been beaten a long way in his three runs to date over the larger obstacles and Speedalong was tailed off at Huntingdon and remains winless.
Behind Time (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Behind, not fluent, mistake 5th, struggling 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off, last of 4, dist behind Optimus Prime (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 1f (3) gs in Dec.
Speedalong (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, jumped left and not fluent 7th, went left next, mistake 9th, behind 13th, 6th of 9, dist behind Bestwork (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Triopas (IRE) 2-1 (11-9) Made all, edged right and reminder on paddock bend after 7th, ridden and edged left before last, edged left and stayed on run-in, strongly pressed near finish, all out, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec beating American Life (11-1) by shd, 7 ran.
Cap Horner (FR) 11-2 (11-7) Mistake 1st, held up in last pair, modest 4th and one pace from 3 out (normal 4 out), 4th of 7, 17 1/4l behind Major Hindrance (11-8) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
