in touch, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
whipped round start, clear lead until jumped slowly 2nd, soon headed, chased leader until 6th, weakened next, tailed off
not fluent, held up towards rear, reminders 5th, soon lost touch, tailed off
in touch, hit 6th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, raced keenly, went 2nd 6th, hampered by loose horse 3 out, led 2 out, soon hampered by loose horse again, went left and hit last very easily
chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, no real headway from 7th, mistake last
chased leader, led after 2nd, hit 7th, headed 2 out, no chance with winner flat
held up, slightly hampered 2nd, mistake 7th, never dangerous
mid-division, no chance before 7th, tailed off
mid-division, not fluent 4th, no chance before 7th, tailed off
went right start, held up in rear, no chance before 7th, mistake last, tailed off
held up towards rear, raced keenly, never near leaders
mid-division, not fluent 5th, weakened after 7th
Diamond Harry has shown good form in winning both starts in bumpers for Nick Williams and he has to be respected on his hurdling debut but marginal preference is for another recruit from National Hunt flat races in AWESOME GEORGE, who gets the verdict ahead of Keki Buku. The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding made a winning start to his bumper career here last year before running down the field in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival and subsequently disappointing at Worcester on his final start. He has to be respected on his debut over timber but it is of concern how he ran at Worcester so he may be best watched. David Pipe's Tom Knows showed only a limited amount of promise on his first start over hurdles at Kempton in November and may do better now but he needs to, while Oliver Sherwood's Finney needs to step up on his bumper form to trouble the judge. Ballyveeney and Sleepers Hill are interesting newcomers but it is Awesome George that gets the vote. Alan King's gelding showed a good and consistent level of form in bumpers and he is taken to make a winning start over hurdles.
Awesome George 11-8fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, challenged 3f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind The Bonus Ball (10-7) at Southwell 2m nhf (6) gd in Feb.
Ballyveeney (IRE) Lord Americo gelding out of Miss Agarbie.
Calm Seas (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Held up, pushed along halfway, tailed off over 3f, 11th of 15, well behind Little Josh (11-6) at Hexham 2m nhf (6) gs.
Cash For Honours 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 6f out, led over 4f out, headed 2f out, soon no chance with winner, 3rd of 15, 10l behind Voice of Reason (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f nhf (6) gd in Nov.
Diamond Harry 4-1co-fav (11-7) Made all, hard pressed over 2f out, held on gamely, won at Newbury 2m nhf (2) sft in Mar beating Shalone (10-11) by a shd, 14 ran.
Finney 5-2fav (11-2) Mid-division, headway 11f out, ridden over 3f out, led and edged left from over 1f out, held on, won at Chepstow 2m mdn nhf (6) gs in Feb beating Romance Dance (10-5) by a nk, 16 ran.
Its All About You (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, weakened from under 5f out, 9th of 12, 27l behind Commons Glory (11-4) at Bellewstown 2m 1f ldy nhf gd in Aug.
Keki Buku (FR) 15-8fav (11-7) Mid-division, hampered over 4f out, not recover, 10th of 11, 18l behind Its Tough (11-0) at Southwell 2m nhf (5) gs in Apr.
Minella Boys (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Towards rear, weakened 4th, 7th of 13, 37l behind Drever Route (10-12) at Hexham 2m nov hdl (4) gs.
Ninety Nine Looks (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, pushed along 6th, short-lived effort before next, 6th of 14, 30l behind Chunky Lad (10-5) at Stratford 2m 3f sll hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Sleepers Hill (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Prominent, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 4th of 10, 10l behind Crow Spinney (10-4) at Stratford 2m nhf (5) sft in Sept.
Thirtythreeblack (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, some headway under pressure after 5th, weakened 3 out, 10th of 12, well behind Weather Front (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs.
Tom Knows (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden after 3 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 17, 15l behind Zebra Crossing (10-12) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Bijou Love (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden approaching 6th, never dangerous, 8th of 15, well behind Hora (10-9) at Hereford 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Lady Samantha 66-1 (10-5) Mistake 6th, always behind, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind William Butler (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Sept.
Springfield Gunner 9-1 (11-1) Led to halfway, weakened over 3f out, 6th of 14, 26l behind Magellan Straits (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) gd in Jun.
