chased leaders, mistake 10th, weakened before 14th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 3 out
behind, pecked 1st, driven along from 12th, plugged on under pressure from 3 out, went poor 3rd and blundered last
led to 10th, chased leader until hit 12th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off when pulled up approaching 3 out
in touch, headway 11th, plugged on at one pace approaching 3 out
behind, headway and went distance 3rd approaching 3 out, jumped left 2 out, no chance when fell last
in touch, mistake and dropped to last at 5th, never going well in rear after, blundered 4 out, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out
pressed leader, challenged from 8th, led 10th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, rallied under pressure run-in
tracked leaders, mistake 4th, went 2nd 12th, hit 4 out, ridden to challenge 3 out, rider lost whip soon after, led approaching 2 out, pushed out run-in
Point-to-point recruit Bennett has to be respected going over fences for the first time but Noel Chance's gelding faces no easy task against The Luder, who gets the confident vote with Back For The Craic rated the best of the rest. The selection was the pick of these over hurdles, is sure to have been well schooled and, with the yard of Paul Nicholls in such good form, lack of a recent run need not be of concern. Billesey has a jumps pedigree and it is no surprise to see trainer Simon Sherwood putting the son of King's Ride over fences although it is to be hoped that he jumps fences better than hurdles. Moonlit Harbour is hard to recommend having fallen on his last two starts and of more interest may be Nicky Henderson's Back For The Craic, who could be anything. Lack of a previous run over fences would be the only concern for The Luder but, provided that he jumps the fences well enough, he really should be too good for these.
Back For The Craic (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Held up, not fluent throughout, headway approaching 4 out, ridden and weakened next, 4th of 8, well behind Cloudy Lane (11-6) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Bennett (IRE) 6-5fav (10-13) In touch, led 3f out, ridden and pressed 2f out, headed over 1f out, unable to quicken final furlong, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Tisseman (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 2f mdn nhf (6) gd in Oct.
Billesey (IRE) 11-4fav (11-6) Made most, disputing lead and every chance when fell 2 out in race won by Teeton Babysham (11-6) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Moonlit Harbour 5-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders and keen, close up 2nd when fell at the 14th in race won by Shardam (11-7) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf, 5 ran.
Mylord Collonges (FR) 100-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway approaching 11th, close up 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 12, 23l behind Don't Push It (11-0) at Stratford 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Oct.
Seeador 3-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, led 10th, soon clear, jumped right last, pushed out, won at Hereford 3m 2f mdn hdl (4) gf in May beating Safe To Blush (10-4) by a distance, 12 ran.
Treasulier (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Held up, lost touch 10th, plugged on, 4th of 8, 23l behind Frosty Jak (11-7) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
The Luder (IRE) 9-4fav (10-7) Led, hit 7th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 17l behind Mughas (11-5) at Ayr 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
