held up, headway 4th, chased winner approaching last, stayed on
close up, led after 3rd, ridden clear 2 out, pushed out
raced keen in touch, weakened from 5th, pulled up before next
in touch, ridden and effort 2 out, soon one pace
in touch, driven and one pace from 2 out
in touch, hampered and blundered 3rd, behind when pulled up before 3 out
raced keen tracking leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, jumped left 3rd, ridden and weakened 3 out, soon beaten
led, headed 2nd, ridden and weakened from 3 out
jumped right 2nd, always towards rear
close up, led 2nd, headed after next, stayed prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened last
held up in touch, hampered 3rd, ridden and weakened from 3 out
An interesting opener which probably concerns no more than half a dozen and the most interesting of these is Double Honour. Very good on the flat (rated 117 at one time), the five-year-old comes here for his hurdling debut, having been switched to Philip Hobbs for his jumping campaign. Sure to have been well schooled, he should easily get this trip, has won with cut in the ground on the level if he hurdles well in theory he should have too much speed for these. However, it would perhaps not be too wise to take a short price about him, given that he will be up against the very real threat of Keltic Bard. Charlie Mann's gelding looked very useful when seeing off Sud Bleu at Newbury in November in similar underfoot conditions. The six-year-old lacks nothing in experience over hurdles, having taken on the big boys in the Ladbroke at Ascot last time, albeit suffering a heavy defeat there. However, if he can produce a repeat of the Newbury run, and with his proven ability over the obstacles, he is just preferred to the likely hotpot. Handy Money has been showing some ability in his last two starts, making the frame both times. However, he has looked a bit one paced in the closing stages and is unlikely to trouble the aforementioned pair here. King's Mill stayed on very well behind Caracciola at Newbury last time and looks to be going the right way, but ideally he looks like he would prefer a sound surface to give his best. Greenfield is another debutante in the line-up and has run well on both soft and heavy on the level. Not up to the class of Double Honour in that facet of the sport, he is nevertheless another to be respected and very unlikely to be lacking practice at home. Of the remainder, keep an eye on the market for Kalou, a German bred contender who has shown nothing in two starts on the flat and over hurdles in this country. However, that has never stopped his trainer Barney Curley from having a punt before, so a watching brief is advised in case there is any significant money for the entire.
