held up in touch, headway approaching 4 out, led before last, driven out (no time taken)
tracked leaders, led 6th until 4 out, chasing leaders and held when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 3 out, soon one pace
led until 6th, led again approaching 4 out, headed before last soon weakened
Having won on his last chase start we're confident that DANEHILL WILLY can bounce back to form in this Novices' event and score at the expense of good hurdler The God Of Love and Irish raider Norther Bay. A course and distance winner in one of these races in June the pick then ran a good race in defeat in a listed hurdle. In his next two starts his form has dropped off but now back in this sphere he should score in a field in which he is the highest rated. The God Of Love has nine pounds to find according to the official ratings but has won over fences and ran a good race in defeat on his last start at this venue. His jumping is not always assured but he should be able to put in a good shift. Norther Bay was thought good enough to have a crack at the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last season and while that was ultimately folly he has shown promise in this sphere and is a challenger if recovering from a fall last time out. Sumbulando was in form before unseating his pilot here on his latest effort so is another to consider but Danehill Willy sets the standard and can get back to winning ways.
Danehill Willy (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Close up, went 2nd from 3rd, blundered 3 out, no extra from next, 6th of 17, 13l behind Treaty Flyer (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sep.
The God Of Love (USA) 9-1 (10-0) Prominent, slightly slow jump 4 out, 2nd approaching next, no extra from 2 out and mistake last, 5th of 9, 15l behind Keys Pride (10-3) at Cork 2m Ext hcp ch gd in Oct.
Norther Bay (FR) 6-1 (11-1) Tracked leader until fell 5 out, in a race won by Emmpat (11-5) at Roscommon 2m nov chs gf in Sep, 5 ran.
Petrosian 12-1 (10-12) With leader when left in lead 1st, headed 4th, led 6th, left well clear 3 out, fell 2 out, remounted, 2nd of 6, 39l behind Manorson (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Sambulando (FR) 10-11fav (11-3) Chased clear leaders, closed when slightly hampered 6th, went 2nd 8th, 2 lengths down when blundered badly and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Manorson (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m beg chs (4) gd in Oct, 6 ran.
