behind, hit 4th, soon lost touch, pulled up before 8th
held up in touch, ridden in 4th approaching 3 out, no impression
held up, headway 8th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, kept on but no chance with easy winner
jumped well, tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4th, led 7th, drew clear from 3 out, hard held
always behind, hit 8th, soon lost touch
led after 2nd until 7th, gradually faded
led until after 2nd, stayed prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, gradually weakened
World Hurdle winner My Way de Solzen was beaten on his reappearance at Wetherby but Alan King's gelding gave the impression that he would come on a bundle for that outing and is hard to oppose on his chasing debut in a race where the main threats look to be Regal Heights and Blu Teen. The last mentioned did not progress as much as anticipated over hurdles last term and may improve for the switch to chasing for his in-form handler. Gentleman Jimmy and Bongo Fury have both shown ability but lack the class, judged by hurdles ability, to trouble the selection and a bigger threat is likely to come form Don McCain's Regal Heights, who showed promise on his chasing debut in a race that is already working out well. My Way de Solzen is different class to these over hurdles though and is hard to oppose on his chasing debut, especially as he has already had a pipe-opener over hurdles this term.
Ballybean (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders to 4th, lost touch 6th, last of 4, well behind Pablo Du Charmil (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (4) gf.
Blu Teen (FR) 1-3fav (11-7) Led, 10 lengths clear and in command when pecked and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Dreams Jewel (11-0) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Gentleman Jimmy 9-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, but never going pace to reach leaders, 6th of 17, 8l behind Astyanax (10-9) at Newbury 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Mar.
My Way de Solzen (FR) 4-9fav (11-8) Made most, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Redemption (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Oct.
Regal Heights (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, one pace, 3rd of 10, 16l behind Tidal Fury (10-7) at Carlisle 2m beg chs (4) sft.
Up Above (IRE) 14-1 (9-10) Led, headed 6th, soon lost place, weakened 4 out, 16th of 19, well behind Finger Onthe Pulse (10-10) at Naas 2m 4f hcp hdl sft in Oct.
Bongo Fury (FR) 40-1 (10-9) Led to approaching 1st, chased leader until ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 11th of 17, 30l behind Wellbeing (10-2) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr.
