held up, left handy 2nd, challenged 3 out, soon ridden, edged left after last, held final 100 yards, stayed on
held up in rear, hampered 2nd, closed 8th, ridden after next, soon weakened, mistake 2 out
held up, left handy 2nd, lost place before 7th, weakened after 4 out
made all, ridden when edged right and rider dropped whip after 3 out, stayed on gamely
held up, left handy 2nd, every chance 3 out, not quicken next, switched right before last, stayed on towards finish
held up, brought down 2nd
prominent, hampered and unseated rider 2nd
Westend Story was fifth in last year’s Champion Bumper at Cheltenham but just hasn’t taken to hurdles so far. He has no doubt been well schooled since his latest odds-on failure at Wetherby but the alarm bells are definitely ringing. At the likely odds, we’d rather take a chance on the points winners FORGETTHESMALLTALK as he ran a race full of promise on his debut under Rules in a Warwick bumper and this big step up in trip should see him in an even better light. One More Hero, Step Back and he Happy Chappy are others who have scored between the flags and Woodfort ran his best race so far over timber at Doncaster earlier in the month.
Forgetthesmalltalk (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Towards rear, outpaced over 4f out, headway under pressure 3f out, went 4th and kept final furlong, no impression, 4th of 14, 14 3/4l behind Carlos Du Fruitier (11-4) at Warwick 2m (6) sft in Jan.
One More Hero (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Cl up, 5th frm 5th & 4th 6out, cl 3rd frm 2out, so bef last on inner & ld 50 yards out, gng away fin, won at Dromahane 3m mdn gd in Apr beating Big Bad Brian (11-10) by 2l, 13 ran.
Sidsteel (IRE) 200-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, 10th of 12, dist behind River Wylde (11-11) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Step Back (IRE) Evens (12-1) Trk ldrs 3rd/4th, slightly hmpd 7out, impr disp 5out, trvl well 3out, ld 2out, clr last, sow easily, won at Broughshane 3m gd in May beating Important Moment (11-10) by 8l, 10 ran.
The Happy Chappy (IRE) 10-11fav (11-0) Towards rear, headway before 4 out, chased winner after 2 out until last, kept on, 3rd of 7, 19 3/4l behind No Hassle Hoff (11-0) at Hereford 3m 2f mdn (5) sft in Nov.
Westend Story (IRE) 1-2fav (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway before 4th to chase leaders, chased winner before 3 out, soon ridden, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 9, 23l behind Lakeside Castle (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 5f mdn (5) gs in Jan.
Woodfort 12-1 (10-12) Led, headed narrowly 2 out, every chance last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Creep Desbois (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 5f (4) gs in Feb.
Day In Paradise Tobougg M out of Sunnyland.
