in touch, ridden 8th, soon struggling, tailed off
led, hit 6th, headed 3 out, regained lead next, driven and headed between last 2, no chance with winner when rider dropped whip flat
held up in rear, steady headway 8th, challenged 2 out, led on bit between last 2, clear before last, pushed out flat, easily
mid-division, headway 8th, ridden and struggling before 2 out, tailed off
took keen hold in rear, not fluent 4th, struggling 3 out, well behind and no chance when pulled up before next
chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, led 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, driven between last 2, soon dropped to 3rd, no chance with front pair
held up in last pair, hit 5th, hampered on bend after 5th, struggling 3 out, tailed off
raced wide, held up in mid-division, headway into 4th and under pressure after 2 out, plugged on one pace
in mid-division when slipped up on bend after 5th
always in rear, struggling 3 out, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before last
took keen hold, tracked leading pair, driven along after 2 out, weakened between last 2
led to 7th, weakened rapidly next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
An interesting maiden hurdle featuring the return of last season's smart bumper performer Voice Of Reason. Carl Llewellyn's charge will need to be on top of his game to topple ANY CURRENCY who found the progressive Great Endeavour too strong at Towcester on his latest start. Prior to that he was a good second in what appeared a decent Chepstow maiden hurdle and with stamina assured, he is the most obvious selection. Voice Of Reason landed a listed bumper at Warwick on his final start before injury intervened last season. Third in that Warwick bumper was the subsequent Cheltenham bumper fourth Shoreacres. Proven on testing ground, connections clearly believe he is a stayer commencing over this trip but he faces a stern test in the shape of Any Currency. Hello Moscow's participation hinges on how he will come out of Monday's engagement at Plumpton. A dual Irish point-to-point winner for Michael Hourigan, chasing is where he is likely to come into his own. One Cool Knight can be expected to benefit from his racecourse debut at Wincanton but Any Currency has shown enough to suggest he is capable of landing this.
Alaminos (FR) 22-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, weakened after 7th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Tisfreetdream (10-11) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct, 15 ran.
Any Currency (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (10-12) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed soon after, every chance flat, outbattled, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Great Endeavour (11-8) at Towcester 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Chariot Charger (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, soon ridden to chase leaders, stayed on same pace, 6th of 19, 9l behind Bensalem (11-0) at Sandown 2m nhf (4) sft in Nov.
Eastwell Smiles 20-1 (11-9) Mid-division, weakened after 3 out, last of 10, 42l behind Spear Thistle (11-12) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Nov.
Frenchie Frenchie (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Held up, weakened over 3f out, 7th of 8, 14l behind Like Minded (11-4) at Lingfield 2m nhf (6) pol in Nov.
Hello Moscow (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, headway into 3rd over 2f out, 2nd 1f out, kept on to press winner close home, just held, 2nd of 16, nk behind Local Present (11-9) at Kilbeggan 2m 4f nhf frm in May.
Henchman 20-1 (10-12) In touch in chasing group, lost place 5th, 6th and staying on same pace when not clear run on run-in, 6th of 10, 31l behind Wendel (11-4) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Mr Mackay 12-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, mid-division, headway halfway, hung right 5f out, weakened 4f out, 5th of 14, 29l behind Cherry Flora (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) gs in Oct.
One Cool Knight (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) In touch, headway to chase leader 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 5th of 13, 30l behind Definity (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Sideon Arthur (FR) 150-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear and fell 4 out in race won by Fair Point (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov, 16 ran.
Voice of Reason (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, soon outpaced by front pair, rallied to go 2nd over 1f out, stayed on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Warwick 2m nhf lst (1) hvy in Jan beating Blencathra Bay (11-9) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Freeze The Dream 100-1 (10-10) Chased leaders to 5th, soon lost place, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Divali Princess (10-12) at Lingfield 2m mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Devil's Creek (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, ridden before 7th, soon struggling, 5th of 13, 35l behind Ballykelly (11-0) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in May.
