tended to jump left, chased leading trio until dropped to last 10th, tailed off when went badly left 3 out, plugged on into modest 4th run-in
chased winner until after 4th, 2nd again next, ridden and no chance with winner before 2 out, ridden between last two, lost 2nd at the last, one pace in 3rd
took keen hold in 3rd, 2nd after 4th until next, chased leading pair, mistake 9th, outpaced 11th, plugged on same pace from 3 out, took modest 2nd at the last
mostly jumped well, made all, not fluent 5th, clear 3 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
held up last, hit 7th, went left next, went 4th and hit 10th, ridden and struggling when mistake 3 out, weakened and lost modest 4th run-in
Boondooma scored between the flags and has won three times over hurdles including on his reappearance at Chepstow last month. There's every chance he'll make a decent chaser, a remark that also applies to Irish Cavalier, three times a winner over timber and related to the useful jumper Make A Track. Killala Quay landed a Grade 2 novices hurdle at Sandown in December and ran a cracking race behind Faugheen at Cheltenham while The Skyfarmer was in superb form at this time a year ago winning three times over hurdles. PUFFIN BILLY is the only one of these with experience over fences and that should count in his favour. He was returning from an 11-month break when third to Dunraven Storm at Exeter and the winner landed a Grade 2 at Cheltenham over the weekend. Oliver Sherwood's charge will have learnt from the experience and is taken to see off some potentially useful rivals.
Boondooma (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 12, 16l behind Shelford (10-4) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Irish Cavalier (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, challenged 4th, pushed along to lead after 3 out, headed before next, weakened approaching last, 7th of 10, 21l behind Josses Hill (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Apr.
Killala Quay 11-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, ridden before 3 out, soon outpaced, well held 5th 2 out, 5th of 18, 38l behind Beat That (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Apr.
Puffin Billy (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) Led to 2nd, chased winner from 4th until 3 out, not fluent and one pace after, 3rd of 8, 17l behind Dunraven Storm (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Oct.
The Skyfarmer 10-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, ridden and lost place before 7th, weakened after 3 out, 16th of 24, 34l behind Don Poli (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f cond hcap hdle (2) gd in Mar.
