held up mid-division, good headway 9th, with leader next, ridden after last, weakened when lost 3rd flat
tracked leaders in 3rd, in 4th and weakened from 4 out
held up towards rear, took keen hold, jinked slightly right approaching 8th, outpaced 10th, headway approaching last, stayed on to take 3rd last 100 yards
tracked leader, blundered 4th, saddle soon slipped, pulled up after 5th
held up in touch, soon tracking leaders and keen, led 8th, headed flat, no extra and always held by winner towards finish
held up in rear and keen, went 3rd at 12th, tracked leader after last, led flat, held on well
held up towards rear, jumped slow 2nd, in rear and mistake and unseated rider 3rd
SHOPFRONTSPECIALST gets the vote to make a winning debut over fences ahead of Greenbelt and Teenage Idol. Gordon Elliott's record at this track isn't particularly special but with AP booked it appears he means business and his 122-rated hurdler looks to have a fitness advantage over most of his rivals. Providing he's fluent over his obstacles Shopfrontspecialst can beat Greenbelt, who is winless in six tries over fences and hasn't won after an absence such as the one he faces here. That said with a rating of 118 he's entitled to take home some prize money and may fare better than Teenage Idol, who has claims on his hurdles mark but looks to need soft ground to produce his best. Darksideofthemoon has his conditions but just looks short of the required ability unless improving for the switch to fences so a bigger threat may be Lord Larsson who has won fresh.
Darksideofthemoon (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Comehomequietly (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Aug.
First Fought (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) In touch in mid-division, outpaced from 10th, stayed on from over 1f out, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 15l behind Archie's Wish (10-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Aug.
Greenbelt 4-6fav (11-0) Ran in snatches, led to 2nd, chased leaders in 3rd, went 2nd briefly approaching 10th, chased winner and no impression from 3 out, 25 lengths down in 2nd when mistake last, 2nd of 4, 37l behind Le Platino (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 6f beg chase (4) gd in Apr.
Harbour Way 50-1 (11-0) Behind, ridden and some headway into mid-division 6th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 12, 49l behind Hold Fast (11-7) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Kingsben 11-4fav (11-7) Led, hit 5th, headed 3 out, weakened approaching last, 9th of 13, 22l behind Farleigh House (10-7) at Doncaster 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Lord Larsson 2-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, soon chased winner, ridden 2 out, kept on under pressure to hold on for 2nd, no impression with winner flat, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Tisfreetdream (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov chs (4) gf in May.
Shopfrontspecialst (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, headway into 3rd 3 out, ridden in 5th entering straight, no extra and weakened, 7th of 10, 24l behind St Devote (10-10) at Listowel 2m hcp hdl.
Teenage Idol (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Held up in mid-division, headway to track leaders 4th, weakened after 2 out, 2nd of 11, 20l behind Federstar (10-9) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Mar.
