always behind, never a factor, tailed off when blundered 2 out, left remote 4th last
tracked leaders going well, hit 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, led between last 2, ridden and strongly pressed towards finish, held on gamely
raced keenly, mistakes, tracked leader, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 1st, led before next, ridden and headed before 2 out where mistake, soon weakened, left modest 3rd and hampered last
never fluent, led until before 2nd, chased leader, pushed along to lead again briefly before 2 out, chased winner and well held when fell last
raced keenly, held up in last pair, closer approaching 4 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, left in close 2nd at the last, driven and strong challenge towards finish, just failed
raced keenly chasing leaders, outpaced after 4th, soon beaten, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
OPINE was no great shakes on the Flat but finished runner-up at Huntingdon on his hurdling debut and first start for Jonjo O’Neill. He looks up to winning in this company on that evidence and gets the vote. Nevendon placed at Kempton on the Flat and has switched to Dan Skelton’s yard while Pyramid Place and Star Of Wells are other hurdling newcomers having failed to score on the level. Edebez and Jersey Grey have experience over timber but both were well beaten.
Edebez (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, ridden before 3 out but no impression, no extra, 6th of 7, 31 3/4l behind Hiconic (11-10) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (4) gd in Aug.
Jersey Grey (FR) 125-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, modest headway before 3 out, soon outpaced, 5th of 8, 22 3/4l behind Hell Red (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Nevendon 16-1 (9-4) Led, headed over 5f out, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 14, 23 1/4l behind Red Missile (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Aug.
Opine (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway when not fluent 3 out, chased winner before next, ridden and held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Dutch Admiral (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Sep.
Pyramid Place (IRE) 7-1 (8-6) Raced keenly, chased leading pair until over 2f out, hanging left over 1f out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 10 1/4l behind Papa Power (8-6) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Feb.
Star Of Wells (IRE) 17-2 (9-2) Close up, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Flying Dragon (9-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
