held up in rear, went 4th before 2 out, ridden to chase winner before last, kept on and held run-in
held up towards rear in 5th, headway to go 3rd 3 out, ridden before next, one pace in 3rd
with leader, led 4th, headed before 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, no extra from last
tracked leaders, pushed along after 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders in 3rd, headway before 4 out and going well, soon led, not fluent 2 out, kept on strongly
led, not fluent 1st, headed and mistake 4th, reminders and weakened from 4 out, tailed off
Some promising types face the starter here, though the majority lack a recent run. Even If has already had a run over hurdles, finishing sixth at Wincanton in March - he'll know more today. Beau De Tabel won a Uttoxeter bumper in May while Man Of Steel rattled up a hat-trick in that sphere in the summer. He clearly has plenty of ability but preference is for THE SKYFARMER, who ran in some very competitive bumpers last season and finally got off the mark at Wincanton in April. He's already won a point-to-point so the switch to hurdles is unlikely to be a problem. What A Joke started favourite here last month for a bumper but only managed third and is likely to find a few of these too strong.
Back In June 4-1 (12-0) Tr ldrs, 5th 1/2way, ko sme pce str, 8th of 11, 29l behind Heads Or Tails (12-0) at Stradbally 3m ire ptp gd in May.
Beau De Tabel (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, headway on outside over 3f out, soon driven to chase leading pair, ridden to challenge and every chance over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on, won at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gs in May beating When I'm Sixtyfour (10-10) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Even If 6-1 (11-1) Held up, headway on outside 3 out, outpaced before next, no impression, 6th of 16, 30l behind Karinga Dancer (11-1) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Man Of Steel (IRE) 8-11fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, led 3f out, asserted inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gf in Jul beating Snapchat (11-2) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
The Skyfarmer 9-4fav (11-1) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, hard driven, ran on well, won at Wincanton 2m NH flat (5) gd in Apr beating Solstice Son (10-7) by 3l, 10 ran.
What A Joke (IRE) 11-4fav (10-9) Tracked leader, ridden when bumped over 2f out, edged left and one pace over 1f out, 3rd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Sebastians Charm (11-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f NH flat (5) gf in Sep.
