chased leaders, hard driven to challenge after 2 out, stayed on into 2nd after last, never reached winner
led until approaching 2 out, rallied and every chance last, faded flat
always prominent, switched left to challenge after 3 out, led approaching 2 out, challenged last, hard ridden, all out
chased leaders, slow 6th, soon driven, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, slow 5th, beaten 5 out, tailed off next
chased leaders, slow 1st, soon lost place and towards rear, not fluent 3rd, beaten 4 out, soon tailed off
Smackwater Jack won a maiden hurdle at Ludlow recently but is conceding weight to the higher rated Before Midnight. But the dual bumper is making hard work of winning over hurdles and failed to land the odds on a couple of occasions before finishing runner-up at Kempton. JASMIN DES BORDES will need to improve on his hurdling debut third at Chepstow last month but has plenty of scope to do so with a first-time tongue-tie helping his cause. A chance is taken on David Pipe’s charge racing on faster going for the first time. At Its Own Expense has shown some ability in bumpers and is preferred of the remaining trip on his hurdling bow.
Smackwater Jack (IRE) Evensfav (11-6) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, led approaching last, edged left flat, comfortably, won at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Jan beating Financial Conduct (11-6) by 4l, 11 ran.
At Its Own Expense (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Prominent, led 5f out, headed over 2f out, no impression on winner over 1f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Those Tiger Feet (11-0) at Hereford 2m (5) sft in Nov.
Before Midnight 15-8 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd at 5th, led on long run before 2 out, narrowly headed last, left with every chance run-in, no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Tidal Flow (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gd in Nov.
Jasmin Des Bordes (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division on outside, closed 3rd, challenging when jumped right 3 out, led between last 2nd, soon headed, not fluent last, no impression on winner flat, kept on, 3rd of 16, 7 1/4l behind Present Value (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Movie Theatre 100-1 (10-12) Led until 2nd, remained prominent, until lost place 6th, behind when pulled up after 4 out, at Hereford 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Ruffling Feathers (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Prominent until pushed along and weakened after 7th, 14th of 16, dist behind Secret Reprieve (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) hvy in Dec.
