15:15
Betfred Merry Christmas Handicap Hurdle
Class 3, 3m58y, Hurdle, 3yo+, Rated 0-130, 9 runners
Winning time 6m 8.79s
- Going
- Good To Soft
- Surface
- Turf
- Jumps
- 12 hurdles
Result
Gavin Sheehan
Jamie Snowden
Handy early - untidy over 3rd - hit the front for a moment before 8th - upsides the pacesetter 3 out - driven in front 2 out - fought off a rival late to prevail
Charlotte Jones
James Moffatt
Never travelling smoothly early on - hit front but lost it approaching 8th - drew alongside again 3 out - pushed along and lost front spot before 2 out - still fighting when clouting last - found more close home but denied by short head margin
Danny McMenamin
Nicky Richards
Settled with the pack early - stumbled slightly 4th - improved into contention 3 out - up to third before 2 out with a minor error - unable to live with front two - stayed on past the last for third
Lewis Saunders (5)
Olly Murphy
Held up towards the back - stumbled at the 9th - urged into contention 10th - lost touch with leading group before 3 out - stayed on at one gear finishing 4th
Brian Hughes
John & Sean Quinn
Settled in the pack early - pushed for effort after the 10th then dropped away 3 out - unable to threaten from 2 out home finishing fifth
Tom Cannon
Alan King
Sat behind front group - pushed on 3 out and gained ground wide before weakening approaching 2 out - held on well to finish sixth
Jack Quinlan
Richard J Bandey
Well placed early - pressed for effort approaching 3 out - lost touch and dropped away before 2 out - finished well beaten in 7th
Patrick Wadge
Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore
Settled at the back early - urged into effort after the 10th and pressed for pace three out - dropped away before the second-last and finished well beaten
Aidan Weaver (7)
Olly Murphy
Settled at the back of the field - dropped away before 3 out - finished well beaten in 9th
Non-runners: Jalisco Star (unsuitable ground)
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.