tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out, left poor 4th next
led, going well when fell 2 out
pulled hard early, held up in rear, closer order to 5th 2nd, went 2nd after 3 out until pushed along in 3rd before next, left close 2nd and slightly hampered 2 out, hung right then left and crossed flat, kept on
chased leaders, not fluent 8th, pushed along and went 2nd before left in narrow lead 2 out, went left last, hung right flat, stayed on
with leader, went right 3rd, led briefly 4th, mistake and weakened 3 out, left modest 3rd next, kept on flat
last pair, reminders after 7th, ridden and struggling 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
in rear, mistake 6th, struggling after 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
V Neck is sure to be massively popular in light of his connections - Nicholls, Mcmanus and McCoy - and this one-run, one-win pointer from the Irish scene may simply sweep these rivals away on this hurdling debut for his top yard. However, he's likely to offer little in the way of value and CAROLE'S DESTRIER is a decent alternative and may even represent an each-way option. Promising in bumper company, the Mulholland gelding made an excellent hurdles debut when second to Warden Hill at Kempton over this trip and seems a certain improver. Wither Yenot and Grace And Fortune have both displayed sufficient ability to land a small novice hurdle and add spice to an interesting little heat.
Blue Bear (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Slight lead, hit 6th, hung badly right on bend and headed before 2 out, weakened rapidly, tailed off, 10th of 11, 41l behind Long Lunch (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Oct.
Carole's Destrier 16-1 (10-12) Took keen hold in mid-division, closed approaching 4 out, tracked going well before 2 out, went close 2nd and hit 2 out, driven in 3rd between last 2, stayed on under pressure into 2nd close home, not pace of winner, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Warden Hill (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
V Neck (IRE) 5-4 (10-7) Ww; rap hdwy 2 out; qcknd to ld final 150yds; impressive, won at Dulverton 3m ptp gd in May beating Secret Meeting (12-0) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Wither Yenot (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Took keen hold and held up towards rear, mistake 5th, headway when left in 3rd at 6th, no chance with leading duo when went left 2 out, 3rd of 12, 15l behind Masters Hill (10-11) at Exeter 2m 7f am nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Grace And Fortune 16-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, reminders and weakened after 8th, mistake next, tailed off when pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Minella Special (11-8) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Oh So High (IRE) Mountain High filly out of Oh So Breezy.
Tigridia (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Held up in touch on outer, pushed along and weakened after 3 out, 5th of 9, 29l behind Experimentalist (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jun.