pressed winner, challenged on wide outside and hit 3 out, soon ridden and weakened before next, mistake last
tracked leading pair, went 2nd travelling well soon after 3 out, chance next, pushed along and well held between last 2, ridden flat, just held on for 2nd
held up in last pair, steady headway 4 out, tracked leaders before 3 out, 4th and no impression 2 out, weakening when fell last
held up in last trio, headway to 3rd soon after 3 out, kept on under pressure flat and almost snatched 2nd but no chance with easy winner
made all, ridden and well in command between last 2, kept on strongly flat, eased close home
held up in last trio, steady headway 4 out, pushed along and keeping on same pace but no chance when left modest 4th last
well away, held up in last pair, hung badly left after 1st, reluctant to race and soon tailed off, clambered over 2nd and pulled up
held up in rear of main group, keeping on same pace and no impression when blundered went left and unseated rider 2 out
A top-class renewal of this Listed handicap which has been won by some smart hurdlers in the past. Nicky Henderson always has one laid out for this and Chatterbox is his representative this year. A dual course and distance winner last winter, he was fourth in the Neptune Investment at Cheltenham in March. Paul Nicholls won it with Rock On Ruby in 2011 and relies on the four-year-old Irish Saint, who was third in a Grade 1 at Aintree in April, while the lightly-raced Get Back In Line could be anything and receives weight all round. Chris Pea Green went close at Ascot on his return to action but was well behind Irish Saint at Kempton last season. PUFFIN BILLY will love the ground and goes well fresh. Last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle fifth can bounce back with a win as Ifandbutwhynot, Fleet Dawn and Lordofthehouse don't look up to this level.
Puffin Billy (IRE) 6-5fav (11-8) Held up in rear, took keen hold, mistake 3rd, hit 7th, closed 3 out, pushed along and tracking leaders after 2 out, 3rd and beaten when not fluent last, weakened and lost 2 places flat, 5th of 6, 23l behind Whisper (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Chatterbox (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up in touch in rear, headway on inside approaching 3 out, pressing for 2nd when not fluent and lost place 2 out, not much room briefly on bend before last, no impression on leaders after, 4th of 8, 14l behind The New One (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Irish Saint (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Led, pressed 2 out, soon ridden and headed before last, no extra and lost 2nd place run-in, 3rd of 10, 6l behind L'unique (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Chris Pea Green 8-1 (10-7) Took keen hold in touch, hit 5th, pushed along after 3 out, went 2nd and hit 2 out, ridden and hung right between last 2, chance when hit last, not clear run and switched right flat, stayed on in closing stages, always held, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Pine Creek (10-4) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gs.
Ifandbutwhynot (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, hampered 4th, headway approaching last, never on terms, 10th of 18, 10l behind Dell' Arca (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd.
Fleet Dawn 7-1 (11-2) Prominent, mistake 1st, challenged 2 out, left in lead last, pressed flat, held on, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Mar beating Master Benjamin (10-4) by nk, 19 ran.
Lordofthehouse (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Reluctant to race, ridden and reluctantly went towards 1st in hack canter going sideways, refused at hurdle, in a race won by Bombadero (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Oct, 7 ran.
Get Back In Line (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) In touch in 5th, headway before 2 out, ridden to lead run-in, kept on well, won at Catterick 2m 3f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) sft in Feb beating King Of The Wolds (11-8) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
