held up in rear, not fluent 5th, effort 10th, mistake 4 out, every chance when blundered 2 out, no extra last
held up in rear, headway approaching 10th, 4th and one pace 2 out, went 3rd last, no chance with front pair
held up, headway after 6th, challenged 2 out, led soon after last, edged left, driven out
tracked leader, followed that rival by jumping left at times, led after 4th, soon headed, led again 7th, headed 8th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, jumped slowly next, lost place 9th, pulled up before 10th
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 7th, led next, ridden and joined 2 out, headed soon after last, held towards finish
held up, headway 4th, ridden 9th, losing place when pulled up before next
led, jumped badly left, headed after 4th, soon led again, pecked and headed 7th, weakened before 3 out, soon pulled up
It's interesting to see points winner Loudmouth tackling handicap company on his debut over fences under Rules. He might be well treated and makes more appeal than the likes of Sail And Return, Next Exit and another chasing debutant Pasture Bay. Newton Abbot runner-up Tiny Tenor needs to improve in the jumping department while Brady disappointed when last seen but Avoca Promise has run well fresh in the past and De Blacksmith will relish the soft ground. BUCKING THE TREND, a decent novice hurdler last season on soft going, is a full brother to useful staying chaser Ballyoliver so the switch to fences should see Tim Vaughan's five-year-old prove even more effective and he gets the nod.
Bucking The Trend 100-1 (11-7) Held up, effort approaching 2 out, never on terms, weakened soon after, 8th of 13, 44l behind At Fishers Cross (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Mar.
Sail And Return 6-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, went 4th at 6th, weakened 3 out, last of 6, 13l behind Aimigayle (10-5) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gf in Sep.
Avoca Promise (IRE) 85-40 (11-0) Held up in touch in last pair, not always fluent, closed after 3 out, ridden next, one pace, 4th of 5, 16l behind Gallox Bridge (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 2f nov chs 0-125 (4) sft in Feb.
Tiny Tenor (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Tracked winner, held when not fluent 3 out (water), lost 2nd soon after 2 out, ralllied under pressure to regain modest 2nd close home, 2nd of 4, 12l behind De Faoithesdream (11-11) at Newton Abbot 2m nov chs (4) gf in Sep.
Next Exit (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up, jumped big 3rd, not fluent 4th or 5th, outpaced 13th, well beaten 4 out, 4th of 5, well behind According To Trev (10-13) at Southwell 3m nov chs (4) gd in Sep.
Loudmouth (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 8th, led 3 out, headed 2 out, one pace and lost 2nd place last, 3rd of 9, 13l behind Cowards Close (11-0) at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Apr.
Pasture Bay (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Held up in touch on outside, mistake 4th, behind and outpaced when hit 4 out, weakened after next, last of 5, 41l behind Rum And Butter (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gf in Aug.
Brady (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Led, not fluent 1st, headed 2nd, tracked leader, led before 5th, headed 6th, reminders before 11th, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind One Term (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf in Jul.
De Blacksmith (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Led until hit 5th and headed, chased leader until ridden before 7th, lost place and towards ear, when clipped heels on landing and fell 3 out, in a race won by Kenai Peninsula (11-7) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Apr, 14 ran.
