held up in rear, hampered 2nd, headway approaching 3 out, led after 2 out, in command when wandered last, ran on well
led until after 2 out, stayed on same pace
tracked leader 1st, every chance 3 out, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, pulled hard, fell 2nd
chased leader to 1st, prominent until weakened after 2 out, soon hanging left
chased leaders, hung right and weakened 6th, tailed off
chased leaders, shaken up 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
held up, jumped right 1st, ridden approaching 6th, always behind, tailed off
badly hampered 2nd, behind after, tailed off
held up, bumped 1st, hit 6th, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, hampered 2nd, headway approaching 6th, weakened after 2 out
soon behind, jumped slowly 2nd, tailed off
OPENING MEET was placed on his only start in a point-to-point before making a winning rules debut for Paul Nicholls when landing a Taunton bumper last month and he can make a winning start to his career over hurdles by taking this with the main dangers rated as Barafundle and Call Me Mulligan. The last mentioned has run well in both starts in bumpers with a debut success here followed by a decent effort when chasing home Line Tzigane at Uttoxeter and he has to be respected on his first start over hurdles. Jonjo O'Neill's Chapolimoss was well beaten first time up over timber and looks best watched at present with a bigger threat likely to come from Regain Du Charbonneau. David Pipe's gelding won in a bumper at Market Rasen on his first start back in August but was unable to carry the penalty for that win with any success on his only subsequent start but he may do better now switched to hurdles. Cotswold Charmer did not live up to expectations on his debut for Nigel Twiston-Davies in a Uttoxeter bumper in October but may do better now sent hurdling although of more interest may be Barafundle. Jennie Candlish's gelding has shown progressive form in bumpers and he could be a big threat to the selection, Opening Meet.
Barafundle (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up, headway on outside 7f out, ran on well to lead inside final furlong, won at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd in Apr beating Black Jack Blues (10-13) by 4l, 15 ran.
Brimley 100-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, hit 1st, soon lost place, tailed off 6th, 5th of 7, well behind First Point (11-1) at Ludlow 2m beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Call Me Mulligan (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Always prominent, led over 3f out, soon pushed along, ridden over 1f out, headed near finish, 2nd of 16, nk behind Line Tzigane (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gs in Jul.
Chapolimoss (FR) 40-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, outpaced next, no impression, 5th of 13, 14l behind The Giant Bolster (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Cotswold Charmer (IRE) 7-2 (10-11) Led, hung badly right, headed and lost place bend after 5f, progress to chase leaders 4f out, weakened 1f out, 6th of 15, 16l behind Any The Wiser (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m cond & am NH flat (6) gd in Oct.
Diddley Dee 100-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place quickly after 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Sitting Tennant (11-8) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Dunraven Star (IRE) Whitmore's Conn gelding out of Nordic Tiara.
Filippo Lippi (IRE) 28-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, hard ridden after 8th, always behind, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Jau (11-0) at Hereford 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Ibbetson (USA) 14-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 12, 5l behind Sapphire Prince (9-3) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-85 (5) gf in Oct (flat).
Mista Rossa 7-1 (9-8) Tracked leading pair and clear, switched inside 3f out, ridden and stayed on to lead over 1f out, eased near finish, headed final strides, 2nd of 13, shd behind Warne's Way (9-11) at Newbury 1m 4f ladies hcap (5) sft in Oct (flat).
Opening Meet 11-2 (11-2) Held up, wide into straight over 3f out, headway soon after, ridden to lead well over 1f out, ran on, won at Taunton 2m 1f mdn nhf (5) sft in Nov beating Strictly Business (11-2) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Septos 6-1 (12-0) Ran mod 4th, rdn 4out, went 3rd next, no ex bef next in 4th, ko onepce, 4th of 15, 12l behind Joe Soap (12-0) at Kinsale 3m ire ptp gd in May.
