jumped well, led, headed after 2 out, soon ridden and 3 lengths down, only 1 length down when left in clear lead last
jumped right at times, chased leaders, outpaced before 4 out, well beaten 2 out, left remote 2nd last
chased leaders, getting behind from 8th, well adrift 4 out, left very remote 3rd last
jumped left at times, chased winner, pushed along after 3 out, led after next, soon went 3 lengths clear, hanging badly left from final bend, only 1 length ahead when not fluent and unseated rider last
Clever As A Fox won three times over hurdles but was a long way behind HOOPER (NAP) here in May. Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old, who won the bumper on this card 12 months ago, is 3-3 on the track and getting 17lb from the prolific Presentandcounting, taking into account his rider’s claim. He can make a winning start over fences if his jumping is up to scratch.
Presentandcounting (IRE) 11-8fav (11-10) Jumped well, made all, clear 7th until 9th, left well clear 2 out, shaken up before last, stayed on well, unchallenged, won at Stratford 2m 5f (3) gd in Aug beating Eglantine Du Seuil (10-13) by 3 3/4l, 4 ran.
Clever As A Fox (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Jumped right at times, chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, not fluent 6th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 7, dist behind Mercian Prince (10-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Game In The Park (FR) 11-2 (10-7) Held up in last pair, plugged on in modest 4th before 2 out, never on terms, 4th of 8, 26 1/4l behind Candyman Can (10-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (5) sft in Jul.
Hooper 5-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, held final 150 yards, kept on, 6th of 15, 1 1/2l behind Stonific (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
