held up in touch, not fluent 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened next, tailed off
held up behind in touch, ridden to chase leaders after 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened from next
tracked leaders, hit 5th, lost place after next, chased leading pair before 3 out, went 2nd approaching next, soon ridden, stayed on flat, always held
chased winner, hit 6th, outpaced when blundered 3 out, soon ridden and lost place, lost 3rd and weakened between last 2, pulled up before last
made all, about 8 lengths clear when jumped right 2 out, ridden out flat
close up on outside, lost place after 5th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, struggling after 5th, ridden 2 out, stayed on to go well beaten 3rd between last 2, never near leading pair
This Novices' Hurdle should be fought out between the in form yards of Emma Lavelle and Donald McCain with the latter's REALMONT just preferred. A winning chaser in France the gelding will love these conditions and his run when a close up third in a Grade 2 Chase at Auteuil when last seen looks good form and Don McCain's ability to ready one first time negates any fitness worries. Emma Lavelle's representative is Silver Footnote who ran a pleasing debut in a bumper before, there was more encouragement to be taken from a good first try over hurdles. Michael Scudamore had a winner this week and his Seymour Eric should be worth another chance despite falling on his timber bow. Realmont, though, could be too classy.
Gentle Bob (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Rn out 3, in a race won by Chan Bahlum (12-0) at Eyton-on-severn 2m 4f ptp gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Just Unique 50-1 (11-4) Soon led, ran green after 2f, headed after 3f, prominent, ridden 5f out, weakened over 3f out, 7th of 10, 18l behind Eastlake (11-4) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gs in Oct.
Our Columbus (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway 8th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Kennel Hill (11-1) at Ludlow 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Apr, 7 ran.
Seymour Eric 25-1 (11-0) Held up behind when jumped violently left and fell 1st, in a race won by Sonofvic (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs, 15 ran.
Silver Footnote 18-1 (11-1) Tracked leader until after 7th, outpaced after 3 out, rallied to chase winner approaching last, no impression, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Scampi Boy (11-1) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Wheretheres A Will 22-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden 6f out, weakened over 4f out, 6th of 18, 30l behind Peters Star (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f NH flat (5) gd in May '07.
Glamorous Gg 66-1 (10-7) In touch, pushed along before 4th, soon driven, behind 6th, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Miss Nightshade (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f mares NH nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Realmont (FR) (10-5) 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Rubi Ball (10-5) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 4f chs sft in May '09.
