jumped right, led and clear to 4th, narrow advantage when slipped and unseated rider turning into straight
prominent main group, close up 4th, left in narrow 2nd turning in, ridden between last 2, stayed on to lead approaching last, drew clear flat
held up in last pair, struggling final circuit, lost touch 4 out, continued tailed off, left remote 4th turning in
tracked clear leader, close up 4th, mistake 3 out, soon challenged, left in lead turning into straight, ridden between last 2, headed when not fluent last, no impression flat
prominent main group, close up 4th, left disputing 2nd turning in, outpaced by front pair after 2 out, well held in clear 3rd between last 2
held up in last pair, struggling final circuit, lost touch when fell 4 out
A point-to-point and bumper winner, PRESENCE OF MIND is from the family of the top-class hurdler/chaser Albertas Run. Olly Murphy’s charge gets the vote to make a winning start over timber. Tango Boy is another bumper winner and ran well for a long way at Carlisle before fading into third on his hurdling debut. He looks the biggest threat as Word Has It has placed between the flags but lost his footing and fell in a bumper on his debut under Rules. The remainder are hard to recommend on what little they’ve shown so far.
Alph (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Pulled hard, headway chasing leaders before 2nd, nit next, weakened quickly 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before next, at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) sft in Nov.
Presence Of Mind (IRE) 6-4fav (11-2) Made all, ridden and edged left over 1f out, rider dropped rein briefly, stayed on, holding 2nd towards finish, won at Huntingdon 1m 6f mdn (5) gs in Nov beating Faivoir (11-2) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Strategic (IRE) 250-1 (10-12) Always in rear, 9th of 14, dist behind Decor Irlandais (11-10) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Tango Boy (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Mid-division, headway halfway, effort 2 out, no extra approaching last, 3rd of 10, 16l behind Multellie (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) sft in Oct.
Word Has It (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Chased winner, ridden and lost 2nd before falling over 1f out, at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (5) hvy in Nov.
Beyondtheflame 100-1 (10-0) Led until approaching 2nd, remained prominent, lost place halfway, behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
