held up in rear, pushed along 10th, weakened after 14th
held up, closed 2nd, led 10th, headed 4 out, weakened flat
several slow jumps, led until 1st, led before 5th, headed next, led 7th until 10th, weakened 13th, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden in 4th after 13th, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, no impression on winner
tracked leaders, went 2nd 11th, led 4 out, headed when not fluent 3 out, stayed on same pace before last
held up, not fluent 1st, closed next, lost place 4th, effort 11th, challenged when not much room 4 out, led next, clear last, stayed on well
led 1st until after 5th, led 6th until next, weakened 13th, pulled up before 4 out
Azure Fly made all for a very convincing victory at Newbury and, as that was only his fifth start over fences, there should be more to come despite a 10lb rise in the weights. Strollawaynow was racing over fences for just the third time when landing a novices' handicap at Taunton where he stayed on strongly. He's up 5lb but looks certain to get involved. ALGERNON PAZHAM hasn't been seen since battling to victory at Warwick in March and though that was over hurdles he's always been regarded as a potentially decent staying prospect over fences. Connections are taking advantage of his lowly hurdles rating and a winning start is anticipated. Upswing is another making his chasing bow and the three-times hurdles winner could prove a smart performer in staying chases as could yet another first-timer Hada Men, a winner of seven races on the Flat and over hurdles, though he's a bit long in the tooth to start a new career.
Upswing (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) In touch in 4th, weakened before 3 out, 13th of 16, well behind Aubusson (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Ballybough Pat (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4 out, ridden and weakened before blundered 2 out, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Tea For Two (9-12) at Kempton 2m 5f Listed hcp hdl (1) sft.
Chase The Spud 9-1 (11-1) Chased winner until before 14th, weakened before next, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Gevrey Chambertin (11-2) at Newbury 3m nov hcap ch (3) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Hada Men (USA) 15-2 (11-11) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 7th, went 4th before last, kept on same pace, no impression, 4th of 8, 11l behind Extreme Impact (10-6) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan '14.
Medieval Chapel (FR) 9-4fav (10-12) Chased leaders, jumped slowly 6th, closed when not fluent 4 out, ridden after next, one pace when not fluent last, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Perfect Candidate (11-0) at Leicester 2m 7f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Algernon Pazham (IRE) 15-8fav (11-3) Always prominent, led when not fluent 5th, headed and not fluent 7th, soon led again, not fluent 3 out, jockey having problems with reins on bend when headed before 2 out, went right and bumped rival last, carried left and led flat, held on, won at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Walk On Al (11-9) by nk, 7 ran.
Strollawaynow (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Made virtually all, went left 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Taunton 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec beating Tsar Alexandre (11-8) by 4l, 8 ran.
Azure Fly (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Sometimes jumped right, made all, came clear from 3 out, stayed on strongly, won at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec beating Desert Joe (11-1) by 9l, 11 ran.
