led, jumped left 7th, blundered 13th, joined 2 out, headed approaching last, lost 2nd last, kept on same pace flat
took keen hold, always in rear, never on terms, tailed off
behind, not fluent 1st, unseated rider next
chased leading pair, went 2nd 10th, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, driven out
took keen hold in touch, lost pace 8th, tailed off 10th, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, lost place 8th, pecked 12th, 6th and no chance when went badly right 2 out
towards rear, unseated rider 3rd
in touch and not always fluent, slow at 5th, jumped big 6th, steady headway 8th, went 3rd 3 out, 4th and beaten when blundered last
towards rear, headway approaching 12th, driven along in 5th after 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, soon hung right, went 2nd last, closed on winner near finish, always just held
chased leader until 10th, lost 3rd 3 out, ridden and weakened well before next
in rear, never on terms, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
TALKONTHESTREET was easily the best of these over hurdles and has already shown that he has a future over fences when chasing home Grove Pride at Exeter. He is likely to be a short price here to open his account. Godsmejudge was second in a competitive beginners' chase at Stratford last month but then ran no sort of race behind Rolling Aces at Newbury and has a bit to prove now, while a similar comment applies to Barlow, who was pulled up on his debut over fences at Kempton. Western King and The Musical Guy could be interesting now transferring their talents to the larger obstacles but this isn't an easy start.
Barlow (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway before 13th, in 3rd and looking held when blundered badly 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by So Fine (11-2) at Kempton 3m beg chs (4) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Cruz On Ted 50-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, in touch, driven 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 6, 31l behind Golden Hoof (11-5) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Glenwood Present (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 25l behind Cousin Khee (11-0) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std.
Godsmejudge (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Pressed leader, lost place 12th, weakened 4 out, 12th of 15, 47l behind Rolling Aces (11-12) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Hard To Tell (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Led 2-5; wknd qckly 13; to & pu 4 out, in a race won by On My Living Life (12-0) at Black Forest Lodge 3m ptp gf in Nov '11, 14 ran.
Mr Jay Dee (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, weakened before 7th, 10th of 20, well behind Valento (10-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Sherreb (IRE) 50-1 (11-1) With leaders, left in lead 4 out until 3 out, chased winner until before last, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 19l behind Broadbackbob (11-1) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Talkonthestreet (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) In touch, headway 9th, went 3rd after next, pushed along before 4 out, ridden and one pace when mistake 3 out, well held when left poor 2nd last, 2nd of 7, 21l behind Grove Pride (11-3) at Exeter 3m nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
The Musical Guy (IRE) 9-4fav (10-12) Close up, led 7th, headed before 5 out, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 38l behind Duke Of Monmouth (10-5) at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Western King (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Disputed lead, hampered 1st and next, switched inside and tracked leader before next, led after 7th, headed after 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Easter Day (11-3) at Ascot 2m 6f nh nov hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Chadford 50-1 (10-6) Chased leader, not fluent 3rd, hit 4th, soon weakened, and behind, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Hinterland (11-10) at Chepstow 2m Limited hcp hdl (2) sft in Oct.