tracked winner, led 4th, blundered and fell 6th
not always fluent, tracked leaders, left 2nd at 6th, hit 8th and next, 2 and a half lengths down when hanging right and looked held when fell 2 out
led to 4th, tracked leader, left in lead 6th, quickened about 2 and a half lengths ahead and looked likely winner when left alone 2 out
Paul Nicholls sends out almost half the field here, but none of his four runners may be good enough to lower the colours of Racing Demon, who looks a very smart and speedy novice. The selection, second in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last March, has looked very good in winning at Exeter and then over course and distance here last time, when he had Hoo La Baloo four lengths behind. Ideally he looks suited by some cut, so that is one slight doubt, but we will follow him until he is beaten. Albuhera looks best of the Nicholls quartet, and he will prefer this return to a sound surface and two miles, after finding Exotic Dancer too good over further and with cut at Cheltenham last time. Over two miles he lay just have the edge over that rival. Cornish Sett is on the upgrade and can be competitive, Cerium has plenty to find with Racing Demon, while Flying Spirit may prove better than both of them under these conditions. But Racing Demon looks the business and he can do just that here.
Exotic Dancer (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, hit 13th and 3 out, ridden and headway 2 out, led approaching last, ran on, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (B) gs beating Bewleys Berry (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Flying Spirit (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Led, not fluent 5th, jumped right 7th, headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 9, 36l behind Crozan (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (B) gs in Nov.
Crossbow Creek 11-2 (11-8) brought down in race won by Racing Demon (11-10) at Sandown 2m nov chs Grd 2 (A) sft, 7 ran.
Hoo La Baloo (FR) 6-1 (10-13) Jumped well, clear after 2nd, strongly pressed 2 out, headed well before last, hung right and no impression run-in, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Racing Demon (11-10) at Sandown 2m nov chs Grd 2 (A) sft.
Racing Demon (IRE) 6-4fav (11-10) Held up last, reminders and headway 4 out, tracked leader next, challenged 2 out, led before last, kept on strongly run-in, won at Sandown 2m nov chs Grd 2 (A) sft beating Hoo La Baloo (10-13) by 4l, 7 ran.
