took keen hold, tracked leader, hit 1st, ridden to lead and mistake 2 out, driven and ran on flat, headed final 75 yards
tracked leaders, led approaching 5th, mistake and headed 2 out, weakened and jumped right last
took keen hold, led, hit 1st, jumped slowly 3rd, headed approaching 5th, weakened soon after 2 out
patiently ridden in 4th, headway to track leading pair 2 out, chased winner before last, driven ahead final 75 yards
jumped right in rear, struggling before 5th
Not surprisingly, being by Unfuwain, Heathcote handled the soft ground well when making a winning hurdling debut over course and distance last month and Gary Moore's gelding is taken to follow up at the main expense of Onnix and Brads House. The selection faces no easy task under a penalty but is open to improvement after just one start over hurdles and he clearly6 handles plenty of cut in the ground. Rose Bien was not as good as the selection on the level and has yet to prove that she handles as much cut in the ground as she will encounter today. Monash Lad showed regressive form on the level and of more interest may be Brads House, who showed decent form in middle distance handicaps, including on a soft surface and could be of interest first time out over hurdles. Onnix was a winner of his only start on the level, on soft ground, in France and has to be respected on his hurdling debut for Francois Doumen but Heathcote sets a decent standard and he gets the vote.
Heathcote 18-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, narrow lead and pecked 2 out, in command last, stayed on well flat, won at Lingfield 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) sft in Dec beating Victorias Groom (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Brads House (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Chased leader and raced wide until joined main group over 4f out, one pace, 3rd of 13, 20l behind Toldo (8-10) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct (Flat).
Monash Lad (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Soon tracked leader, led over 3f out to over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 14, 8l behind Newnham (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f mdn stk (5) pol (Flat).
Onnix (FR) (10-1) Held up, headway to lead 1f out, ran on well, won at Fontainebleau 1m 4f stk in Nov beating Opaline Des Aulmes (9-12) by 2l, 13 ran (Flat).
Rose Bien 12-1 (8-4) Slowly into stride, behind, headway 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 5th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Garibaldi (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn stk (5) pol in Nov (Flat).
