tracked leaders, led after 3rd, headed approaching 2 out, no impression
prominent, pushed along and weakened quickly approaching 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 6th
tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, ridden and no impression from 2 out
held up, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression
held up towards rear, weakened approaching 3 out
led, headed after 3rd, behind from 5th, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, no impression from 2 out
in rear, headway approaching 3 out, no impression
held up, weakened approaching 5th
towards rear, pushed along and struggling from 5th
held up mid-division, led approaching 2 out, clear approaching last, easily
French Leave won well enough under extremely testing conditions at Exeter earlier this month and Victor Dartnell's gelding has to be respected but a 7lb rise for that earlier win may prevent him from following up and a better bet looks to be MR PRESLEY, who gets the vote ahead of Heredias. George Baker's gelding is less exposed than most of these after just six starts, has shown better form in novice hurdles on soft ground in his last two starts and looks reasonably well treated on his handicap debut. Ton-Chee has yet to prove that he handles ground this soft, while Guydus fell at the first in the race won by French Leave and is probably best watched following that tumble. Jonjo O'Neill's Mr Presley has run better in his last two starts on fast ground in the summer and looks worth chancing on his return on testing ground with the yard's runners in good form.
Bouncing King 9-2 (11-0) Led, headed 2nd, soon dropped to rear, behind and pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Nikola (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f beg chase (4) gd in Mar '08, 7 ran.
Catch Twenty Two (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Led, mistake 5th, headed from 3 out, soon weakened, 19th of 30, 37l behind Mr Duffy (11-11) at Navan 2m 6f hcp hdl 80-95 gf in Sep.
Investment Wings (IRE) 40-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, under pressure 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by King Ar Aghaidh (11-9) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Guydus (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Fell 1st, in a race won by French Leave (10-4) at Exeter 2m 3f Conditional Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (3yo+) (4) hvy, 10 ran.
French Leave (IRE) 5-2 (10-4) Took keen hold, led to 3rd, led approaching 4th, headed before 6th, led again before 3 out, edged left between last 2, went left and not fluent last, soon hung left, stayed on, won at Exeter 2m 3f Conditional Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (3yo+) (4) hvy beating Lupita (9-9) by 5l, 10 ran.
Ton-Chee 11-1 (11-1) Held up, led 4 out, jumped left and headed 3 out, every chance last, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 17, 3/4l behind Simple Jim (11-12) at Wetherby 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Caliban (IRE) 66-1 (11-9) Chased winner until approaching 5th, weakened after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Quinte Du Chatelet (12-4) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf, 11 ran.
Midnight Diamond (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Chased leader to 1st, handy, pushed along after 2nd, soon lost place, well behind 4th, jumped badly right and slowly 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind Carrickmines (10-11) at Chepstow 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Nov.
Heredias (GER) 12-1 (10-9) Chased leaders until ridden and weakened 2 out, 4th of 7, 13l behind Riptide (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Jeanry (FR) 200-1 (10-5) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 13, 37l behind Factotum (11-5) at Worcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Best Memory 66-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 2nd, clear after 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened quickly, 6th of 8, 19l behind Applaude (10-12) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gf in Nov.
Mr Presley (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) In touch, chased leader 3 out to next, soon ridden and one pace, 3rd of 14, 11l behind Obara d'Avril (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Jun.
Acknowledgement 7-1 (10-13) Pulled hard, led 3rd, headed and weakened 9th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Dew Drop Inn (11-12) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gd in Nov, 17 ran.
