chased leaders, every chance from 2 out, under pressure approaching last, kept on closing stages, not pace of winner
tracked leader, mistake 4th, soon lost place struggling 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out
led, strongly challenged from 2 out, headed before last, faded flat
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, effort after 3 out, led before last, ran on well
held up in rear but in touch, pushed along 5 out, soon no impression, tailed off
GREY STORM was the impressive winner of a Dawstown point to point in May and a few days later went for £100,000 at the Cheltenham Sales. He looks to have been found a good opportunity to make a successful start over hurdles. Freddies Portrait managed to win once in ten starts between the flags but Cadmium won five times on the Flat including on soft ground at Hamilton in July. Save The Bees won eight times on the level and led for a long way on his hurdling debut at Cheltenham but mistakes crept in and he was eventually well beaten. Virnon looks a threat as he is fit from a couple of reasonable runs on the Flat and should make a hurdler.
Freddies Portrait (IRE) 9-4 (12-2) Ld, 1l adv 5out, jnd well bef 3out, hdd 3out & no ex 2out in cl 2nd, cl 3rd but btn when mstk last, wknd, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Clearly Capable (11-11) at Bartlemy 3m in May.
Grey Storm (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Chsd ldrs in 3rd until 2nd frm 6out, ld bef 2out, went clr appr last, row, impressive, won at Dawstown 3m mdn gd in May beating Chase Me (11-9) by 4l, 15 ran.
Save The Bees 40-1 (11-0) Led, not fluent and headed 3 out, outpaced from next, weakened last, 3rd of 7, 22 1/4l behind Mister Miyagi (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m mdn (3) gd in Oct.
Virnon 9-4fav (10-0) Tracked leader, driven to challenge over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden when headed over 1f out, no extra closing stages, 3rd of 7, 7 1/2l behind Maoi Chinn Tire (9-12) at Catterick 2m hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Massini's Lady 50-1 (10-5) Towards rear, pushed along after 5th, moderate late headway, 5th of 10, dist behind Western Miller (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
Niceonemyson 20-1 (9-0) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, one pace, 9th of 19, 4 3/4l behind Posh Bounty (9-5) at Redcar 6f hcp (6) sft in Nov.
Cadmium 5-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 7, 17 1/4l behind Advance (9-3) at Newcastle 1m hcp (5) gd in Aug.
