tended to jump right, in touch, headway to chase leader after 4 out, upsides and jumped right next, led and jumped right last, hard driven run-in, stayed on well
behind, hit 2nd, not fluent and reminders 10th, no chance 4 out
made all, hit 10th, driven along and strongly pressed from 3 out, kept on well, narrowly headed last, stayed on same pace run-in
chased leader to 9th, lost place next, stayed on again from 2 out
pulled hard, soon chasing leaders, weakened after 10th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 4 out
never travelling in rear, slow jump 8th, soon ridden and no response, pulled up before 11th
chased leaders, weakened after 4 out, well beaten in 6th when fell last
in touch, driven along 7th, chased leader 9th to after 4 out, stayed chasing leaders until weakened between last 2
blundered 9th and always behind
The Very Man is preferred to Bermuda Pointe and Kawagino. The Very Man ran a solid race over hurdles behind the well regarded Russian Trigger last time out and could have taken the race had his jumping stood up to better examination. That said, chasing could be the making of him and connections have quickly gone here rather than stay over hurdles. Bermuda Pointe was a beaten favourite at Towcester. There was more than just a slight feeling about him being worried out of matters on that occasion. Kawagino is not as able over fences as he was over hurdles. He can be forgiven a fall at Plumpton as he may have been distracted by another horse making a mistake at the fence ahead of him. Et Maintenant has left Nicky Henderson to join Emma Lavelle. Oscar D'Angron had plenty of chances in France before joining Paul Nicholls so the market is best watched today. The Hairy Lemon ran a fair race on hurdling reappearance but would not want too much in the way of rain. Mars Rock was a fair bumper horse on his day but was pulled up on his last outing over hurdles. The Very Man should have matchfitness on his side and is taken to land the spoils.
The Hairy Lemon 33-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, headway between last 2, stayed on under pressure flat, 4th of 21, 6l behind Newton Bridge (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Kawagino (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Tracking leaders and close up when fell 5 out in race won by Roll Along (11-1) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs, 5 ran.
Oscar D'angron (FR) (10-10) Led until headed last, one pace, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Oh Calin (10-12) at Auteuil 2m 1f chs in Jun.
King Louis (FR) 50-1 (11-2) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out kept on, 3rd of 15, 10l behind Shouldhavehadthat (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f mdn hdl (3) gd in Mar.
Et Maintenant (FR) 11-4 (11-4) Took keen hold, prominent, mistake 6th, weakened after 7th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by National Trust (11-1) at Stratford 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar, 14 ran.
The Very Man (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Held up, pushed along approaching 6th, headway 3 out, not fluent 2 out, hard ridden flat, stayed on toward finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Russian Trigger (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Mars Rock (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Prominent 7th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Ever Special (9-7) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Bermuda Pointe (IRE) 5-6fav (11-2) Led 1st, headed 3rd, led 9th, joined 2 out, headed after last, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Ammunition (11-10) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Goscar Rock (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden after 7th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before last pulled up 2 out in race won by Otantique (11-5) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Mar, 17 ran.
