in rear but in touch, weakened 6th, jumped slow next, soon pulled up
made all, clear after 4 out
tracked leaders, left 2nd from 4th, beaten 4 out
Echo Point gets the vote over Aviation, with Terlan also worth including in calculations. Ex-Irish bumper winner Echo Point opened his account on these shores at the first time of asking at Sedgefield last year, and was then asked to contest a Listed hurdle at Haydock. Not disgraced in finishing second to Wanango, he looks a decent recruit to the chasing game, and he is sure to strip fitter for his debut over the bigger obstacles at Carlisle last month. This should not take much winning, and with minimal improvement, the Nicky Richards inmate should make his class tell. Aviation won a Listed hurdle at Wetherby in 2005 and is another decent recruit, but he will need to show a lot more than he did when last of four on his chase debut here 12 days ago. However, he does get the age allowance so can prove to be the main danger to the selection. Graham Lee has only ridden Terlan once before, and that was a winning ride over timber here, but the eight-year-old's two outings over fences have yielded little, and he is hard to fancy strongly, with preference much for Echo Point.
Dark Character 7-4fav (10-12) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Torkinking (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) sft, 9 ran.
Mitey Perk (IRE) 500-1 (11-2) brought down in race won by Rasharrow (11-5) at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Musical Chord (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, lost place 11th, weakened and pulled up 4 out in race won by Westmeath Flyer (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in May, 6 ran.
Aviation 66-1 (10-5) In touch until outpaced 4th, last of 4, 29l behind Harmony Brig (11-3) at Ayr 2m nov chs (3) sft in Nov.
Echo Point (IRE) 7-4fav (11-5) Led, headed 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 10, 18l behind Tidal Fury (10-7) at Carlisle 2m beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Terlan (GER) 11-1 (10-11) In touch, effort 2 out, ridden and weakened approaching last, 6th of 9, 46l behind Archie Babe (11-4) at Hexham 2m beg chs (4) hvy.
