held up, hampered 5th, headway when mistake 3 out, edged left and chased winner bend after 2 out, no impression when demoted to 3rd and not fluent last
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off
held up, headway 4th, hampered and squeezed out on bend after 2 out, lost ground on leaders, stayed on to chase winner last, no impression
held up in last, mistake 3rd, slightly hampered 5th, soon pushed along, went modest 5th 2 out
tracked leader, not fluent 4th, led 2 out, clear approaching last, ran on well
tracked leaders on inside, fell 5th
held up, jumped slowly 3rd, not fluent next, hampered 5th, soon struggling, tailed off
led until 2 out, weakened approaching last
MONETARY FUND may be an obvious choice but he certainly looks the one to beat here, while Baccalaureate, Halling Gal and Sir Bere are all of interest. The selection looked a smart prospect when being driven out to win at Huntingdon last week, and he should come on a fair bit for that debut effort. The ground won't be a problem and the stable could not be in much better form, so we will give him the nod. Baccalaureate has achieved most of this lot on the racecourse so far and was good enough to win a Grade 2 here in January. Given that profile plus his yard's record here at the track he has to be feared, but he has shown his best form with cut in the ground and looks vulnerable to an improver. Halling Gal is a nice Halling filly trained by Evan Williams. She acts on a sound or fast surface and there was nothing wrong with her performance at Taunton last month when she beat a field of fillies, so she is respected. Sir Bere won a debut bumper and was then unable to handle his penalty. However, he is sure to be well tuned-up for this hurdling debut and with Tony McCoy up he is much respected, though preference is for Monetary Fund.
Baccalaureate (FR) 40-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, close up 3 out, weakened from next, 21st of 24, well behind Sanctuaire (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m Juvenile Novice Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4yo) (1) gd in Mar.
Chebona Bula 5-2fav (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, headway on inner to lead approaching 2 out, ridden clear before last, ran on well, easily, won at Tramore 2m nov hcp hdl 8Evens02 hvy in Jan beating Night Spark (11-6) by 4l, 6 ran.
Monetary Fund (USA) 7-2 (10-4) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, soon led, ridden after 2 out, ran on well flat, won at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Wester Ross (11-5) by 5l, 11 ran.
Dhania (IRE) 80-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, never in contention, 8th of 14, 47l behind Outside The Box (11-0) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Puzzlemaster 150-1 (11-0) Prominent main group, lost place 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 8th of 17, 28l behind Soldatino (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Sarika (FR) 14-1 (10-7) Prominent in chasing group, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 12, 34l behind King's Legacy (11-1) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Sir Bere (FR) 7-4 (11-3) Chased leaders, chased winner over 3f out until over 1f out, soon weakened, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Rudanphast (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Halling Gal 20-1 (10-10) Made all, never in danger, eased flat, won at Taunton 2m 1f Fillies Juvenile Novice Hurdle (4yo) (4) gf in Mar beating Onemix (10-3) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
