in touch, fell 12th
behind, hit 10th, left for 3rd approaching 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd close home, no chance with winner
chased winner to 12th, weakened next, pulled up before 5 out
in touch, driven along 9th, hit 10th, reminders next, chased clear winner approaching 3 out, kept on lost 2nd close home
in touch, reminders after 5th, mistake 7th, landed badly 8th, pulled up before 9th
made all, soon clear, unchallenged
held up, in touch, not fluent 2nd, chased clear winner from 12th, ridden, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before next
in touch, lost place approaching 6th, fell 8th
Very Optimistic gets the confident vote here with Shining Strand and Great As Gold rating the main dangers. The selection was the best of these over hurdles and is sure to have been well-schooled for this his chasing debut. Under his optimum conditions he need only put in a clear round to score. Shining Strand rates the main danger on his best hurdling form but he can be a tricky ride and he lacks the scope of the selection so he is passed over on this occasion. Great As Gold is another worthy of respect as at least he has experience over fences having been a fair second behind Iron Man last time out. However he has plenty to find on official BHB ratings and is passed over for that reason. Of the remainder, Echo Blu has shown a modicum of ability and could run well at a price but his overall profile leaves him with plenty to find and for the winner we return to Very Optimistic who is taken to win this before going on to better things.
Billy Bush (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Never a factor, kept on one paced from 3 out, 8th of 18, 43l behind Major Vernon (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hdl sft in Mar.
Classic Rock 40-1 (10-2) With leader to approaching 4th, weakened after next, 6th of 15, 13l behind Petwick (11-8) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Nov.
Echo Blu (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) 2nd of 7, 35l behind High Chimes (12-0) at Sandon 3m ptp in Mar.
Great As Gold (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden 2 out, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Iron Man (10-7) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) hvy.
Redhouse Chevalier 66-1 (11-1) Led to 5th, hit 10th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the 14th in race won by Basilea Star (11-6) at Warwick 3m 2f beg chs (E) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Shining Strand 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, led 6th, ridden, headed between last 2, one pace run-in, 2nd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Wogan (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs.
Very Optimistic (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) Tracked leader, driven 5 out, weakening when hit 3 out, 4th of 10, 23l behind Lustral Du Seuil (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 3f beg chs (D) gs in Dec.
Soroka (IRE) 66-1 (9-7) Not jump well, always behind, 11th of 15, 41l behind Monger Lane (10-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs.
