tracked leaders, led before 4 out, soon headed, mistake 3 out, beaten last, stayed on same pace
held up in touch in last pair, went 4th from 8th, outpaced in 5th before 4 out, rallied next, blundered 2 out, no further impression
pressed leader until 4th, not fluent 8th, soon dropped into rear pair, outpaced in 4th before 4 out, weakened from next, mistake 2 out
led until 8th, prominent, ridden after 3 out, 3rd and beaten when jumped right last
jumped pretty well, tracked leaders on outside, went 2nd 4th, led 8th, headed before 4 out, soon led again, pushed clear flat
in last pair, pushed along after 11th, not fluent 13th, well beaten after next
Smart staying hurdler SMAD PLACE was clear and travelling easily when blundering and unseating Choc Thornton at the last on his chasing bow at Huntingdon. The grey had jumped well up to that point and is worth another chance to prove he is a useful prospect. Seymour Eric really got his act together over timber last season, winning five times between 2m4f and 3m2f. He has the size to make a chaser but, despite his progress, was still rated 23lb inferior to the selection. Ardkilly Witness is an out-and-out stayer but was second in a Grade 2 hurdle on heavy going at Haydock in February and has plenty of ability. He's already won between the flags so could be another to follow in the coming months.
Ardkilly Witness (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Mid-division in touch, chased leaders under pressure after 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace never on terms, 11th of 24, 15l behind Holywell (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Counting House (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Held up in last pair, outpaced after 3 out, weakened next, 9th of 12, 32l behind At Fishers Cross (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Phone Home (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Towards rear, behind and struggling 7th, never involved, 7th of 16, 45l behind Deciding Moment (10-7) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Seymour Eric 3-1 (11-9) Made all, pushed along to try and lift pace before 7th, driven after 2 out, joined last, kept finding more flat, in command towards finish, won at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Apr beating Dreams Of Milan (10-11) by 1l, 5 ran.
Smad Place (FR) 1-2fav (11-2) Tracked leader, led 3 out, 6 lengths clear when blundered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Le Reve (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs, 5 ran.
Typical Oscar (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, lost place when not fluent next, well beaten 7th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Premier Portrait (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Oct, 10 ran.
