held up in rear in touch, headway into 2nd after 4 out, upsides 2 out, led soon after last, pushed out flat
held up in 4th, close up 3rd, tracked leader next, led after 4 out, joined 2 out, headed soon after last, ridden and held flat
led, headed after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up next
tracked leaders, lost place approaching 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up next
tracked leader to 4th, in touch, driven approaching 4 out, ridden to take 3rd soon after, no chance with leaders from next
Firebird Flyer was still in contention when falling over fences at Perth in June. He has claims on his earlier third over the smaller obstacles at Haydock. But RENDL BEACH has the edge on fitness with a recent second over these hurdles and that may prove decisive in today's outcome. Headgear is applied to Rosa Fleet for the first time on her reappearance but Ashford Wood is preferred as he won a maiden hurdle here back in March.
Firebird Flyer (IRE) 7-2fav (11-3) Jumped left and bumped 1st, tracked leaders, awkward landing 4 out, disputing 4th and looking beaten when fell 3 out, in a race won by Guess Again (11-0) at Perth 3m hcp chs (2) sft in Jun, 8 ran.
Rendl Beach (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, headway approaching 8th, chased leaders 4 out, 2nd before next, ridden and no impression before last, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Audacious Plan (11-4) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Oct.
As De Fer (FR) 4-1fav (11-11) Tracked leader from 2nd, led before 4 out, headed 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 10, 28l behind Court By Surprise (11-11) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Oct.
Rosa Fleet (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Took keen hold, soon tracked winner, not fluent 6th, pushed along and lost 2nd before 3 out, weakened and lost poor 3rd flat, 4th of 9, 34l behind Magic Money (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Ashford Wood (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Prominent, join leader 6th, led 6 out, ridden before lst, soon pressed, headed run-in, kept on and no extra, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Molly's A Diva (11-9) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
