held up, headway 4f out to chase leaders, kept on same pace final 2f
tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out
led, headed over 4f out, rallied and every chance inside last, no extra towards finish
tracked leaders, challenged over 3f out, ridden well over 2f out, weakened inside last
held up in touch on outer, outpaced 5f out, headway over 3f out, stayed on to lead towards finish
held up, headway over 6f out, weakened over 1f out
prominent, led over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, headed towards finish
tracked leaders, weakened over 4f out
held up, ridden and reminders 7f out, weakened over 4f out
held up in touch, outpaced halfway and soon behind, stayed on from over 1f out
The Ferbane Man has had plenty of experience in point-to-points and has to be respected on his rules debut for Tim Vaughan but Warren Greatrex has had a few winners now, including in bumpers, and he can take this with the newcomer BIG GUNS, who is preferred to Bring On The Judge. Nigel Twiston-Davies has his runners in good heart, has a good record in bumpers and he could be of interest on his debut. Willie Hall won well enough at Newcastle last month but is likely to struggle under his penalty today and of more interest may be Don McCain's Flicka's Witness, who makes his debut but comes from a yard in good form. Paul Green's Vicarage Lane has been well held in both starts so far and needs to improve and a bigger threat is likely to come from Alan Fleming's Like Ice, who ran well at Folkestone last month. Preference though is for the Warren Greatrex-trained Big Guns, who is bred to be useful being by Luso out of a Lord Americo mare and he may be good enough to win first time out for connections that do well with their runners in this grade.
Willie Hall 9-2 (10-11) Held up towards rear, chased leaders over 4f out, led over 2f out, driven out, won at Newcastle 2m mdn NH flat (6) gs in Nov beating Fiddlers Reel (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 16 ran.
Big Guns (IRE) Luso gelding out of Little Anna.
Bring On The Judge (IRE) Witness Box gelding out of Turnpike Junction.
Flicka's Witness (IRE) Witness Box gelding out of Ballinard Sarah.
Jim Jam Johnny Hernando gelding out of Magical Field.
Life Long (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Ld/disp to 4out, hdd before 3out, onepcd closing stages, 2nd of 13, 10l behind Glencree (11-7) at Lingstown 3m ire ptp in Mar '08.
Like Ice 14-1 (10-9) Held up in 6th, pushed along, outpaced 3f out, stayed on into 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 4l behind You're So Vain (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Nov.
The Ferbane Man (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Alw in tch, 2nd 3out, rdn 2out, kow but no ch with wnr, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Tyrone Golden Rain (12-0) at Rockfield 3m ire ptp sft in Nov.
Vicarage Lane 12-1 (11-0) Held up, weakened over 3f out, 7th of 9, 34l behind Peddlers Cross (11-0) at Haydock 2m NH flat (4) sft in Nov.
Vin De Roy (FR) Balleroy gelding out of Coup De Rouge.
Just Jennings (IRE) 50-1 (10-5) Held up in touch, outpaced over 4f out, 7th of 12, 38l behind Banjaxed Girl (10-12) at Wetherby 2m N H flat (5) sft in Nov.
