held up, went 3rd 6th, chased winner 11th, pushed along approaching 4 out, 1 1/2 lengths down when unsighted, mistake and unseated rider 3 out
with winner until hit 2nd, last 6th, gradually lost touch from next, pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch, left chasing winner 3rd until 11th, ridden and weakened 4 out, left 2nd next
made all, jumped right on occasions and got worse from 4 out, left well clear 3 out
tracked winner 2nd until blundered and unseated rider next
Plunkett usually runs well here and wasn't beaten far at Ludlow last month. Rio Gael won a decent contest at Fontwell before finishing fifth at Aintree and is one for the short-list, while Ikorodu Road should be all the better for his run at Cheltenham and went close at Newbury last December. HABBIE SIMPSON makes his debut over fences but was a very decent novice hurdler last season and thought good enough to contest a Grade 1 at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He's sure to have had plenty of schooling and it's interesting that Alan King puts him straight into handicap company with plenty of novice options around at the moment.
Habbie Simpson 5-4fav (11-4) Held up, not fluent 5th, 6th or next, closed before 3 out, every chance 2 out, ridden and outpaced by leaders before last, soon held, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Bold Addition (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Ikorodu Road 12-1 (10-13) Led until 2nd, not fluent 5th, lost place when not fluent next, behind 8th, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Ixora (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gf in Oct.
Rio Gael (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, disputed 3rd 2 out, 4th and held when mistake last, 5th of 9, 15l behind Hector's Choice (11-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Made In Time (IRE) 7-1fav (11-1) Led, mistake 3rd, strongly pressed and headed before 3 out, soon no extra and weakened, 14th of 25, well behind Oneeightofamile (11-8) at Punchestown 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 80-102 gd in May.
Plunkett (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, went 2nd 5 out, challenged 4 out, every chance 3 out, one pace from last, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Bold Perk (10-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in Oct.
Marleno (GER) 7-4fav (11-5) Held up in rear, blundered 2nd, fell 7th, in a race won by Wessex King (11-6) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in Oct, 6 ran.
