led, ridden and headed approaching last, still every chance when bumped flat, held close home
held up in 4th until after 9th, ridden 11th, behind next, tailed off
prominent, jumped right and reminder 1st, outpaced 11th, 8 lengths 4th 2 out, no impression when blundered last
always in rear, ridden after 9th, tailed off
prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, 3rd and one pace before last, no impression
held up in 5th, headway approaching 10th, went 2nd before 3 out, blundered next, led when went left last, bumped flat, in command close home
Ferdy Murphy has won this for the past two years and winning hurdler Ouest Eclair is likely to do well over fences. Eyre Apparent scored over timber at Kilbeggan for Dessie Hughes in August and should have learnt from his debut run for the in-form Lucinda Russell at Hexham where a bad mistake stopped him in his tracks on his chasing debut. Dodgey Dream also pulled up in that same contest after a decent run at Cartmel, while King's Counsel is hardly bred for jumping but did well over hurdles and David O'Meara will get the best from him. TRUSTAN TIMES looks a nice prospect who can make a winning debut over the bigger obstacles as he scored between the flags before making a winning debut over timber at Wetherby. He wasn't disgraced in finishing runner-up to Moonlight Drive there next time and has always looked a chaser. Front Of House could provide a threat if he's ready after a long break as he will be better for his opening run over fences at Catterick.
Dodgey Dream 14-1 (11-0) Close up, led briefly 5th, lost place 12th, pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Rolecarr (11-0) at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (4) sft, 8 ran.
Front Of House (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, pecked 8th, headway from 3 out, no impression, 5th of 12, 26l behind Glencree (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chase (4) gs in Jan.
King's Counsel (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Led, hit 5th, strongly pressed from 4 out, narrowly headed 3 out, stayed challenging under pressure, 3rd and one pace last, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Raya Star (11-11) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Ouest Eclair (FR) 25-1 (10-1) Mid-division, chased leaders under pressure 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 18, 21l behind Ubi Ace (11-5) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft.
Puyol (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden after 4 out, never dangerous, 14th of 18, 50l behind Ubi Ace (11-5) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft.
Trustan Times (IRE) 5-4fav (11-5) In touch and keen, badly hampered 2nd, led after 3rd, headed before 3 out, ridden before last, soon no extra, 2nd of 17, 6l behind Moonlight Drive (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Eyre Apparent (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Led, headed briefly 5th,headed before and blundered 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, in a race won by Rolecarr (11-0) at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (4) sft, 8 ran.
