raced keenly, mistakes tracking leaders, pushed along and struggling when went left 4 out, tailed off when went badly left 2 out and last
off the pace in last pair, reminders and struggling in rear after 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
pulled hard tracking leaders on inside, not fluent 4th, awkward 6th, 2nd approaching 3 out, led on bit before next, clear when ran green and wandered approaching last, stayed on well
chased leader, led before 3 out, ridden and headed before next, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
led until headed before 3 out, soon lost 2nd and weakened, poor 3rd when went right 2 out, hit last, tailed off
Dual bumper winner Fifrelet made a winning start to life over hurdles with a smooth success at Newton Abbot but faces tougher opposition here - and concedes weight all round in first-time headgear. Liam Harrison has struck up a good relationship with the Williams inmate and he should go well again. However, DODDIETHEGREAT is unbeaten in two bumpers and especially impressed at Huntingdon. He does have an absence to overcome but his yard frequently introduce useful hurdlers at this venue and he can make a winning start over timber. Pontresina may need this after a year off and Bricklagger and Smoking Pigeon appear to need to improve.
Fifrelet (FR) 4-9fav (11-0) Chased leader, led final bend, jumped left and mistake 2 out, clear last, stayed on, won at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mdn (4) gs in Sep beating Bari Breeze (11-0) by 9l, 3 ran.
Bricklagger (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Raced keenly chasing leaders, weakened on long run before 3 out, 5th of 11, 19 3/4l behind Key To The Moon (10-12) at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Doddiethegreat (IRE) 5-6fav (11-9) Made all, ridden 2f out, ran on well, won at Huntingdon 2m (5) gs in Mar beating Kalmoor (10-9) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Pontresina (IRE) 85-40 (11-0) Chased leaders, mistake 8th, hit 13th, pushed along before next, hit 3 out, staying on when fell last, at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Smoking Pigeon 11-2 (10-12) Led, headed but remained close up 5 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out, last of 4, 13 1/2l behind Grosvenor Court (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) gd in Oct.
