tracked leaders on outside, challenged 2 out, led last, edged right flat, ridden out, kept on well
held up in touch, driven and outpaced before 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
disputed lead to after 3rd, in touch on outside, lost place after 4 out, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
prominent on inside, led after 3rd, headed after 3 out, ridden after next, kept on, readily outpaced by front pair flat
held up in touch, tracked leaders after 4 out, outpaced after next, no impression when not fluent 2 out, ridden and hard pressed for well held 4th when lost saddle cloths flat (finished 4th, disqualified and placed last)
made most to after 3rd, pressed leader, lost place after 4 out, weakened 2 out
behind, pushed along before 3 out, never a threat
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, ridden and stayed on to press for well held 4th flat, no impression (finished 5th, awarded 4th)
tracked leaders, close up in 2nd 4 out, led narrowly after next, hard pressed after next, soon ridden, edged left towards stands side rail and kept on flat, held towards finish
held up in rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
Nigel Twiston-Davies has realistic chances in both divisions of this novices’ hurdle as Al Dancer has useful form in bumpers, including a fourth in a Grade 2 at Aintree in April. Windsor Avenue won bumpers here and at Sedgefield at the start of the year and has also won a point-to-point. Tedham cost €50,000 and was third in a Warwick bumper on his racecourse debut but FIRST ACCOUNT may be more battle-hardened. He showed good speed to win a Belclare point in March and changed hands for £75,000 shortly after. There will be more to come now he is with Donald McCain. Lough Legend was a cheap purchase by comparison and will need to improve on his bumper form now going hurdling.
Al Dancer (FR) 28-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, driven and headway under pressure over 2f out, soon ridden, went 4th and kept on from over 1f out, not pace to trouble leaders, 4th of 20, 7 1/4l behind Portrush Ted (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Barney's Caulker 125-1 (11-0) Led, ran out 1st, at Hexham 2m mdn (5) gd in Sep.
Cataclysm (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) In rear, pushed along before 4 out, never dangerous, pulled up, at Hexham 2m (4) hvy in Mar.
First Account 9-4 (11-11) Pr early, disp ld, qcknd 3 out, trvl well aftr 2out, ko strongly on run-in, won at Belclare 3m mdn gs in Mar beating Primal Focus (11-6) by 6l, 6 ran.
Lough Legend (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and stayed on same pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 9, 8 1/2l behind Melekhov (11-0) at Hexham 2m (5) sft in Apr.
Maybe Mickey 150-1 (11-0) Towards rear, behind 6th, stayed on approaching last, never involved, 6th of 15, 13 3/4l behind Globetrotter (11-0) at Hexham 2m mdn (5) gd in Sep.
Raecius Felix (IRE) Stowaway gelding out of Dances With Waves.
Tedham 5-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, shaken up 2f out, went 3rd and stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 17, 6 1/2l behind Umndeni (10-11) at Warwick 2m (5) gs in Apr.
Windsor Avenue (IRE) 1-9fav (11-9) Made all, clear when shaken up 2 out, kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Carlisle 2m 1f (5) hvy in Feb beating General Custard (11-2) by 24l, 3 ran.
Ringaringarosie (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Always behind, tailed off, 10th of 13, dist behind Simply The Betts (11-4) at Hexham 2m (4) sft in Oct.
Torrid 20-1 (10-12) Behind, mistake 3rd, struggling after 5 out, rallied after 2 out, kept on into remote 3rd, tailed off, 3rd of 13, 21 1/2l behind Simply The Betts (11-4) at Hexham 2m (4) sft in Oct.
