held up in rear, pushed along and outpaced from 6th, soon struggling, left remote 3rd 10th, never dangerous
held up towards rear, jumped left 7th, headway and disputing 3rd when jumped left and blundered and unseated rider 8th
led, jumped slowly and headed 2nd, tracked leader, left in lead 10th, clear before last, eased towards finish
tracked leaders in 3rd, left 2nd from 10th, pressed winner from next, no impression before last
tracked leader, led 2nd, hit 5th, clear before 9th, fell heavily 10th
held up towards rear, behind and struggling from 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
Amuse Me rattled up a hat-trick over hurdles in the autumn but the handicapper has had his measure lately, hence the switch to fences. He doesn't look particularly well treated on his debut over the larger obstacles but does have a bit of scope unlike fellow top weight Enfant Du Lune, who needs the ground a lot softer and has continually flattered to deceive over the last couple of seasons. Up To The Mark was third over hurdles off this mark last month but this could be an opportunity for THE DARLING BOY to put a modest effort on heavy going at Leicester behind him. Today's quicker surface is very much in his favour and he is still on a decent mark.
Amuse Me 9-1 (11-8) Prominent, weakened after 7th, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Daring Origyn (11-8) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Feb.
Enfant De Lune (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, in 2nd and every chance when not fluent last, weakened and lost 2 places run-in, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Qianshan Leader (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Up To The Mark 16-1 (10-1) Tracked leader, raced keenly, ridden to challenge before 2 out, left in 2nd when mistake last, weakening when lost 2nd closing stages, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Highway Code (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-130) (4yo+) (3) gd in Feb.
The Darling Boy 3-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, landed awkwardly 1st, hit 6th, mistake and dropped to last breifly 8th, rallied approaching 4 out, soon no impression, last of 5, 8l behind Playing With Fire (11-9) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
Pin D'Estruval (FR) 3-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway to 4th halfway, ridden before 2 out, soon no extra, pulled up before last, in a race won by Bangonform (11-11) at Sligo 2m 1f beg chs in Oct '09, 15 ran.
Washango (IRE) 16-1 (10-2) Held up in 4th until approaching 5th, lost touch 8th, tailed off, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Betabob (10-5) at Leicester 2m nov chs 0-115 (4) gd in Feb.
