raced keenly in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4 out, weakened before the last
kept wide, led until after 3rd, in front again 4 out, ridden before last, stayed on well run-in
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, switched right approaching the last, soon 2nd, stayed on same pace run-in
chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out until the last, 3rd and one pace run-in
raced keenly in last pair, good headway on outside chasing leaders before 4th, lost place and towards rear soon after 4 out, plugged on
chased leaders, jumped slowly 4th, lost place after 4 out
mid-division, weakened before 3 out
always towards rear, never on terms
jumped poorly in rear, went badly right and lost touch 3rd, tailed off
raced keenly, chased leader, led after 3rd until 4 out, lost 2nd next, weakening when blundered 2 out
The second division of this novices’ hurdle can go to MICKEY BUCKMAN. Placed twice here in the autumn, he made late headway in a Sandown handicap on his penultimate start with a fall at Lingfield being a rare lapse of concentration. Loughan started favourite for a bumper at Lingfield on his racecourse debut but only beat one home. He may do better over hurdles but has a bit to prove today. Fugitives Drift had better bumper form and was too green to do himself justice on his hurdles bow, though he did finish third. Local Affair already looks fully exposed.
Eros (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway on wide outside before 2 out, weakened between last 2, 6th of 14, 17 1/4l behind Republican (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) sft in Dec.
Fugitives Drift (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Held up in rear but in touch, outpaced 4 out, rallied after next, kept on into 3rd never a threat, 3rd of 5, 25 1/2l behind Imperial Alcazar (11-8) at Leicester 2m 4f (3) hvy in Jan.
Loughan (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, soon tracked leaders, went 3rd over 4f out, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 3 1/4l behind Osprey Call (11-0) at Lingfield 2m (5) pol in Nov.
Mickey Buckman 13-8fav (11-4) Chased leaders, fell 7th, at Lingfield 2m 3f mdn (4) hvy in Jan.
Monarchofthegrange (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4f out, soon lost place, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 12, dist behind Kepagge (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (5) sft in Nov.
Steel Yard (IRE) 100-1 (11-3) Prominent, not fluent 5th, lost place after 4 out, weakened 2 out, 12th of 13, 23l behind Garry Clermont (11-9) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Thais Toir (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Prominent, hard driven to challenge over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 13, 24 1/2l behind Soaring Glory (11-4) at Ascot 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Celtic Tara 50-1 (10-5) Jumped moderately in rear, well behind 4 out, 8th of 12, 20l behind Who Shot Jr (10-12) at Taunton 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Abwab (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Always behind, 9th of 10, dist behind Hasankey (11-0) at Wetherby 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Local Affair 17-2 (11-3) In touch, pushed along and fell 4 out, at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Clonusker Lady (IRE) Papal Bull M out of Goodthyne Miss.
