in touch, effort to track leaders before 3 out, weakened under pressure before next
chased leaders until outpaced from 8th, soon tailed off
led, reminders 5th, mistake and headed 9th, stayed chasing leader until weakened and jumped right last 2
tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, pressed and mistake last, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards
held up in rear, steady headway from 3 out, not fluent next, effort to chase leader and hit last, shaken up to lead final 100 yards
took keen hold, pressed leader, hit 2nd, led 9th, mistake 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened before last
not jump well, held up last, 6th and mistake 3 out, 5th and well beaten when mistake 2 out, jumped right last
Smart Mover looked useful when landing an Exeter bumper on his debut and is taken to make a winning start over hurdles with Progressive and Rose Of The Hill rated the man dangers. The selection was largely ignored in the betting market at Exeter but won with something in hand from some decent looking types and looks the type to make the grade over hurdles. Martin Pipe's Rose Of The Hill has winning form in point-to-points but may do better over further and once tackling fences. He still makes more appeal than Colin Tizzard's Moorlands Return who gave little sign of encouragement on his hurdling debut at Kempton earlier this month. Noel Chance's New Mischief showed signs of ability in bumpers and again over hurdles at Wincanton when last seen in April. He cannot be dismissed entirely but a bigger threat is likely to come from Progressive. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding, a bumper winner at Huntingdon on Boxing Day, was outclassed behind the useful Knowhere on his hurdling debut at Chepstow last month and has to be respected but Smart Mover looks a decent prospect and he gets the vote.
