led, headed before 10th, pushed along before 12th, weakened before 3 out
tracked leader, pushed along before 8th, led before 10th, headed 11th, kept on from 3 out
tracked leaders in 4th, led 11th, clear and not fluent last, kept on
in rear, pushed along before 6th, reminders 7th, outpaced 11th, headway 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, outpaced before 3 out, kept on from last to take 3rd
Leith Hill Legasi and Strange Bird are of similar ability over hurdles and make more appeal than Sand Artist as all three go chasing for the same time. Ya Hafed has had four starts over fences but has disappointed since finishing second on his chasing debut at Huntingdon last year. BALL HOPPER is the most experienced having won a handicap over fences at Newton Abbot in May and he gets the nod racing off only a 1lb higher mark in this.
Ya Hafed 6-1 (11-9) Prominent, led 3rd until ridden 7th, tracked leaders, kept on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 9, 14l behind L Frank Baum (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy.
Leith Hill Legasi 6-1 (10-8) Prominent until 4 out, 7th of 11, 41l behind Boherna Lady (11-0) at Worcester 2m 7f mrs hcp hdl (0-105) (4) gd in Oct.
Strange Bird (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Led, hit 3 out, soon headed, weakened before next, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by American Life (11-4) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy, 8 ran.
Ball Hopper (IRE) 6-1 (10-1) Tracked leading pair, lost place and behind 10th, rallied into 4th after 3 out, went well held 3rd close home, 3rd of 5, 10l behind Tolkeins Tango (11-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Sand Artist (IRE) 2-1fav (10-2) Held up mid-division, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Saint John Henry (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy, 10 ran.