led, ridden between last 2, headed last, kept on, lost 2nd towards finish
held up mid-division, headway 3 out, went 2nd between last 2, ridden to lead last, stayed on flat
tracked leaders, mistake 8th, lost place 4 out, no impression when left 4th last
held up mid-division, headway 9th, effort 3 out, soon ridden, left clear 3rd last, stayed on to chase winner towards finish, no impression
held up, headway 4 out, chased leader 3 out to between last 2, 1 length 3rd and staying on when fell heavily last
tracked leader, lost place 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression from next
held up in rear, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
Just the seven runners line up for this handicap hurdle but most of them have claims in what is a competitive event and what can only be a tentative choice is for recent Fontwell winner MAGIC SKY, who has been raised 6lbs for that win but is still well treated on his chase form, and he gets the vote ahead of Echo Point and Always Bold. Don McCain's gelding won well at Musselburgh last time but a 10lb rise for that success and the more testing ground today is a concern for the five-year-old so he may be best watched. Richard Lee's Le Beau Bai is, like the selection, better over fences than hurdles and seems too high over timber at present, while Sue Smith's Leac An Scail is now 6lbs higher than when second at Sedgefield two starts ago. Brendan Powell's Money Order was all out when successful at Chestow last time and is likely to find this tougher off his new mark which is 10lbs higher than then. The Nicky Richards-trained Echo Point has also been punished by the handicapper for his win last time but cannot be ruled out although the ground may be softer than ideal and preference is for Magic Sky.
Echo Point (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Made all, soon clear, unchallenged, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Nov beating Brackenmoss (10-13) by 9l, 11 ran.
Le Beau Bai (FR) 4-1fav (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway after halfway, chased leaders 5 out, ridden next, stayed on gamely, 3rd of 18, 8l behind Dream Alliance (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec.
Always Bold (IRE) 85-40 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th, led before 3 out, drew clear from next, pushed out, easily, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating One Back For Luck (10-5) by 10l, 12 ran.
Money Order (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, ridden to challenge and not fluent last, upsides flat, driven ahead towards finish, won at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec beating Strategic Approach (11-8) by nk, 14 ran.
Magic Sky (FR) 11-2 (10-7) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway after 7th, went 2nd next, ridden after 2 out, stayed on gainly flat to lead close home, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan beating Aldertune (10-11) by nk, 11 ran.
Leac An Scail (IRE) 4-1 (10-2) Led, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened and headed next, 5th of 7, 20l behind Sherwoods Folly (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Jan.
National Trust 5-1 (11-10) Chased leader, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Stripe Me Blue (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb '08, 11 ran.
