close up, went 2nd 4 out until 2 out, soon one pace
led, narrowly headed 2 out, stayed challenging and rallied to join winner hung left flat, just held
mid-division, ridden and struggling 4 out
pulled hard, in touch, effort 5th, weakened after 4 out
held up mid-division, promising headway to track leaders approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened after next
chased leaders until weakened 3 out
chased leader to 4 out, weakened before next
always rear division
always towards rear
held up in rear, stayed on steadily from 3 out, never nearer
in touch, tracked leaders 4 out, led and jumped left 2 out, mistake and jumped left last, hung left flat, driven out
behind until moderate headway from 2 out
Presentandcorrect carried his useful bumper form of last season over to hurdles when finding just the potentially decent Kicks For Free too good at Wincanton on his return and has to be respected but the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding may do better over further and marginal preference here is for Barbers Shop, who gets the vote ahead of Carlitos. The selection lacks a recent run but Nicky Henderson can normally be relied upon to have his runners fit and well schooled so that may not be a problem. His bumper form has a solid look to it and Barbers Shop may well be able to make a winning hurdling debut for his connections. Dual bumper winner Chaim has to be of interest but may want a softer surface, while Sizing Europe may find this company too tough on his first start over hurdles. Fredensborg comes from a yard in form but would need to improve on all known evidence and of more interest may be the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Carlitos. A Sandown bumper winner on his debut earlier this month, he is hard to weigh up but his yard remains in good form so he has to be respected. Barbers Shop has plenty going for him though and he is preferred.
Barbers Shop 7-2 (10-10) Held up in mid-division, headway over 3f out, led just inside final furlong, drifted left close home, just held on, won at Wincanton 2m mdn nhf (6) sft in Mar beating Silverburn (10-13) by a shd, 17 ran.
Carlitos 9-4fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, led after 4f, stayed on strongly from over 1f out, won at Sandown 2m nhf (6) gf beating The Venetian (10-7) by 7l, 12 ran.
Chaim (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Raced keenly in mid-division, headway over 6f out, led going well over 3f out, ran on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) hvy in Oct beating Red Rattle (10-13) by 4l, 14 ran.
Flinders Bay (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 6th, nudged along 3 out, lost ground on leaders approaching 2 out and no danger after, 4th of 12, 27l behind Thenford Flyer (10-12) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Oct.
Fredensborg (NZ) 5-2 (11-3) Led until went lame before halfway and pulled up in race won by Classic Fiddle (10-3) at Plumpton 2m 2f mdn nhf (6) sft in Mar, 10 ran.
Go For One (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 7th in race won by Ally Shrimp (11-6) at Bangor 3m nov hdl (4) gd in May, 13 ran.
Illicit Spirit (IRE) (11-7) ran out at the 7th in race won by Opus Cafe (11-7) at Lismore 3m ire ptp gs in Feb, 13 ran.
Lissara (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Behind, kept on under pressure final 2f but never dangerous, 5th of 15, 8l behind Earth Man (11-4) at Newbury 2m nhf Grd 2 (A) gs in Dec '04.
Mighty Messenger Awesome gelding out of an unraced mare.
Oponce (FR) 9-1 (10-8) Mid-division, jumped slowly 4th and lost place, ridden and weakened after 5th, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind The Rocking Dock (10-9) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in May.
Opus Cafe (FR) 6-1 (10-12) Hung left throughout, raced wide, tracked leader, challenged from 6th, mistake 3 out, eased before next, 7th of 11, 32l behind Ringaroses (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Pedlers Bridge (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, 9th of 12, 27l behind Carlitos (10-7) at Sandown 2m nhf (6) gf.
Presentandcorrect (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Pulled early and held up towards rear, ridden and left 2nd 2 out, led after last, soon hung left and headed, not pace of winner, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Kicks For Free (11-0) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (3) gd.
Sizing Europe (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Always prominent, 4th halfway, 3rd 5f out, 2nd into straight, led over 2f out, ridden and stayed on well, won at Naas 2m nhf sft in Oct beating Rinroe (11-7) by 2l, 22 ran.
William Bonney (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Toemac (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct, 13 ran.
Auburn Grey 100-1 (10-12) Not fluent, behind, ridden 5th, soon tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Nightfly (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs, 14 ran.
