wanted to hang left throughout, led and disputed, advantage from 14th, joined 15th, hit 17th, headed 3 out, driven in 3 lengths 2nd when blundered 2 out, lost 2nd soon after, rallied flat to 2nd close home, no chance with winner
raced wide, tracked leading pair, went 2nd before 15th, soon upsides, led 3 out, clear from 2 out, easily
diputed lead, mistake 10th, pecked 12th and 14th, lost 2nd before next, outpaced 16th, weakened 4 out, lost 3rd next, tailed off
raced on inside, tracked leading trio, blundered badly and lost ground 14th, steady headway to 3rd 3 out, went well held 2nd soon after 2 out, weakened to 3rd close home, not recover
MASTER OF THE HALL didn't jump with any fluency when beaten in this grade on his penultimate start but still finished a long way ahead of the disappointing Billie Magern and got back to winning ways when put over this trip at Huntingdon last month - the runner-up has franked the form since. He's fancied to beat The Minack on level terms over this distance, even though Paul Nicholls' seven-year-old has looked a natural over the larger obstacles in winning at Wincanton and Warwick. Teddy's Reflection won over C&D in November and ran Topsham Belle to half a length at Leicester last month but has a bit to find with the principals today on that form.
Billie Magern 50-1 (11-7) In touch in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, lost place 11th, rear when mistake next, soon well behind, bumped 3 out, 10th of 13, well behind Hell's Bay (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Master Of The Hall (IRE) 2-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 12th, went 2nd 3 out, led next, came clear flat, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) sft in Jan beating Alderluck (10-12) by 6l, 5 ran.
Teddy's Reflection (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Prominent, not fluent 2nd, led 12th until next, led 4 out until 3 out, led 2 out, soon driven, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Topsham Belle (10-6) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) gs in Jan.
The Minack (IRE) 1-4fav (11-4) Led into start, held up in 3rd, left 2nd 12th, soon challenging, led 2 out, driven out, won at Warwick 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Jan beating Balzaccio (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 3 ran.