tracked leader, led 9th, stayed on strongly from last
jumped left at several fences, held up in 3rd, lost touch from 7th, blundered 9th, lost 3rd after last
held up in last, lost touch on 7th, went 3rd after last
led to 9th, jumped left from 3 out, no impression on winner from last
Denman has frightened away most of the opposition here and gets the vote ahead of Snakebite and Charlie¿s Double. The last named was a prolific hurdle winner last season, winning four times. He was highly tried first time out over fences, finishing well beaten at Cheltenham. Obviously this is no easier but he can be expected to have improved for the experience. Snakebite comes from a stable in form and can be expected to give a good account. He won in testing ground at Lingfield last season and any deterioration in the conditions would be to his advantage. He ran respectably in defeat on several occasions last season and can go well but has some ground to make up, having been soundly beaten by Denman already this season. Denman has only tasted defeat once in his career and that was in the Sun Alliance Novices¿ Hurdle in March. He has won twice over fences, and although far from impressive when landing the odds at Cheltenham last time, he appears to have plenty in hand here. Denman can land a hat-trick over fences.
Denman (IRE) 4-6fav (11-4) Made most, hit 4th and 10th, ridden approaching last, hung badly left flat, kept on gamely, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) gs beating Don't Push It (11-4) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Charlies Double 100-1 (11-5) Held up lost touch after 8th, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Fair Along (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs.
High Chimes (IRE) 8-15fav (12-0) won at Tabley 3m ptp gd in Apr '05 beating Monsieur Tagel (12-0) by 12l, 14 ran.
Snakebite (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) With leader, hit 7th, ridden 3 out, weakening when mistake approaching 2 out, jumped left last, 4th of 7, 19l behind Denman (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) gs.
