in touch, hit 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened soon after 2 out
took keen hold, in touch, headway to chase leading pair after 3 out, weakened and hung left before last
tracked leader, challenged before 3 out, led before 2 out, 3 lengths clear last, ridden and kept on strongly flat
led, not fluent 9th, ridden and pressed 3 out, led before 2 out, chased winner until weakened before last
held up, 8 lengths down in 6th when blundered 3 out, weakened and no chance after
not fluent, hit 1st, always in last pair, ridden 9th, soon struggling in rear, tailed off
bumped 1st, held up in last pair, headway from soon after 2 out, chased winner before last, stayed on under pressure flat
chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced soon after 3 out, rallied approaching last, kept on well into 3rd flat
A cracking contest and one where TELL MASSINI will take plenty of beating and gets the nod ahead of The Minack and Lord Generous. This trip is going to take plenty of getting in the ground, and both should suit the selection, who won a Chepstow maiden hurdle with ease on his public debut in October, and then stayed on strongly up this hill to win the Grade 2 over 2m 5f at the Open meeting. The return to this trip won't be a problem and he looks the one to be on. The Minack is an interesting runner, having won readily on his hurdling debut for Paul Nicholls at Exeter. Soft ground clearly suits and as he is unexposed he could be the fly-in-the-ointment, though he could also help us get a better price about the pick. Lord Generous chases a hat-trick, having twice won recently on good ground. He has also scored here in a bumper when there was some cut, and in receipt of weight from the selection he is respected. Bygones Of Brid will relish conditions and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on that extraordinary run-in at Newcastle last time. He has plenty to find with the selection on a line through Reve De Sivola, and will probably come up short. Billie Magern has the ability to get competitive, but would definitely prefer better ground, while money for hurdles debutant John's Gift would make him more interesting. Grand National hero Mon Mome is racing here to preserve his handicap mark for another Aintree assault and Tell Massini can score.
Billie Magern 2-1fav (11-1) Chased leaders in 4th, mistake 5th, reminders after 7th, went 3rd when not fluent 8th, ridden when mistake 3 out, 4th and weakening when fell last, in a race won by Benbane Head (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gf in Oct, 7 ran.
Bygones of Brid (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, wandered approaching 8th, led next, edged right last, soon headed, ridden and rallied to lead again final 75 yards, won at Newcastle 2m 6f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Nov beating Going Wrong (11-3) by nk, 8 ran.
Tell Massini (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Made virtually all, clear approaching last, stayed on strongly, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Nov beating Reve De Sivola (11-7) by 8l, 9 ran.
Lord Generous 11-8fav (11-5) Made all, ridden approaching last, driven out, won at Southwell 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd beating Chamirey (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
The Minack (IRE) 4-9fav (10-12) Made virtually all, shaken up flat, readily, won at Exeter 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Swincombe Rock (10-12) by 5l, 6 ran.
John's Gift 9-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, driven to challenge 3f out, led 2f out, strongly challenged approaching final furlong, stayed on gamely, won at Wincanton 2m NH flat (5) gs in Nov beating Pride In Battle (11-4) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Kennel Hill (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Tended to jump right, chased leaders, mistake and ridden 15th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 9, 29l behind Shillingstone (11-3) at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Mon Mome (FR) 40-1 (10-13) Close up, weakened 14th, tailed off and pulled up 17th, in a race won by Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov, 19 ran.
