tracked leaders, outpaced after 2 out, one pace and held in 3rd when brought down last
in touch, mistake 3rd, headway to lead 11th, hung left and headed approaching last, 3 lengths down when fell last
close up, led 2nd, mistake and unseated rider 7th
held up in rear, headway 4 out, in touch when mistake next, soon weakened, behind when left remote 2nd last
led to 2nd, left in lead 8th, headed 11th, reminders and dropped rear next, behind when hampered and unseated rider last
tracked leaders, headway 4 out, led approaching last, left clear last
In an intriguing opener, IRISH LEGEND is taken to get the better of Kennel Hill and C'monthehammers. Kennel Hill is a winning Irish pointer and hunter chaser and was running with credit when falling at Cheltenham in a good contest on his British debut. He is respected but a watching brief is advised until he completes to gauge his worth more accurately. C'Monthehammers picked up successive handicap hurdles last season before finishing well beaten off a higher mark. He has had a lay off and may just need the outing, and his ability to handle fences has to be taken on trust. Irish Legend's form looks by far the most solid in the race, having already scored over fences. He won a couple of decent handicap hurdles at this time last year, and although well beaten in third recently, time may tell that was a good contest. Irish Legend can get punters off to a good start.
Irish Legend (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Jumped left, held up, went 3rd after 5 out, driven and struggling from next, tailed off, 3rd of 6, 30l behind Gullible Gordon (10-12) at Chepstow 3m nov stks (3) gd.
Kennel Hill (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th or 5th, closed 3 out, well in touch when mistake nowhere to go and brought down 2 out, in a race won by Just Amazing (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m nov stks (2) gf, 6 ran.
Surenaga (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Soon towards rear, no danger and kept on same pace from 5 out, 6th of 10, well behind Catch Me (11-5) at Cork 2m 4f noc chs gd.
Bushwacker (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, joined leader 8th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, 4th and held when fluent 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Thedeboftheyear (10-5) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hdl (4) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
C'Monthehammers (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Held up, reminder after 7th, struggling after 9th, 8th of 12, 40l behind I'm The Decider (11-7) at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May.
Kanpai (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Relegated to last 5th, behind 7th, closed briefly when not fluent 10th, soon lost touch again, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Seven Is My Number (11-12) at Bangor 2m 4f noc chs (3) gd.
