chased leaders, not fluent 5th or 7th, shaken up after 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear on outside, not fluent and struggling 7th, soon behind
chased leader, not fluent 7th, every chance 2 out, 3rd and held flat, one pace
chased leaders, led 2 out, ridden flat, headed final 120 yards, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, not fluent 8th, shaken up after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, not fluent last, led final 120 yards, stayed on
led, headed 2 out, 4th and no extra last, weakened flat
An interesting opener but a question mark hangs over the once well-regarded Danny Kirwan after he managed just one run last season and was well beaten. Killer Kane, winner of his only start between the flags, is a half-brother to Grade 1 winning hurdler Go Native and could be anything but Torn And Frayed has already had five runs over timber, though has finished second three times. We’ll take a chance on BUTTE MONTANA, who was second in a hot Cheltenham bumper a year ago when well supported. He didn’t reproduce that effort later at Ascot but should make a hurdler being a son of Presenting. Ottonian won twice on the Flat up to 1m6f and adds to the interest.
Butte Montana (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) In rear, ridden 3f out, never on terms, 8th of 9, 32 1/2l behind Israel Champ (11-8) at Ascot 2m lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Calypso Storm (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Prominent, led 2nd, hit 6th, headed after 8th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Kelso 2m 5f (4) gd in Sep.
Danny Kirwan (IRE) 4-7fav (11-0) Raced freely early, tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, every chance 2 out, sprawled on landing last, faded, 6th of 13, 21l behind Big Bresil (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f (4) hvy in Feb.
Killer Kane (IRE) 7-2 (12-2) Chsd ldr, 1l 2nd 1/2way, prog to disp bef 2out, ld well bef last, chall bef last where gd jump, kow flat, won at Ballycahane 3m mdn gs in Mar beating Fabrique En France (12-2) by 3l, 6 ran.
Ottonian 18-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders on inside, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and outpaced inside final 2f, plugged on, 4th of 8, 7l behind Future Investment (10-0) at Chester 2m hcp (3) gs in Aug.
Real Stone 20-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra, 7th of 13, 10 1/2l behind Runswick Bay (11-3) at Wincanton 1m 7f (5) sft in Jan.
Torn And Frayed (FR) 9-4 (11-2) Soon chasing leaders on inside, pushed along after 3 out, went 2nd before next, stayed on same pace and held run-in, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Dagueneau (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 5f (4) gs in Mar.
Malinello 12-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden 3f out, led 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 15, 10 3/4l behind Third Time Lucki (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m (5) sft in Jan.
