mid-division, not fluent 7th,ridden after 3 out, one pace from 2 out, went right and mistake last
in touch, lost place 5th, struggling after 3 out
always prominent, not fluent 3 out, led briefly approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
held up in mid-division, not fluent 8th,ridden 2 out, went 2nd last, hampered and cut off against rails after last, switched right and ran on to lead near finish
in rear, pushed along 7th, always behind
held up in rear, raced keenly, sometimes jumped slowly, headway 3 out, one pace from next
tracked leaders, headway 3 out, beaten 2 out,weakened flat
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace last
held up towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 2nd
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, one pace when bumped last, weakened flat
prominent to 9th
held up in rear, headway 8th, led 2 out, ridden and hung left after last, headed near finish
prominent, led 8th, headed approaching 2 out, weakened flat
led until 8th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
An open heat to commence proceedings and one where FRENCH TIES is taken to follow-up his Sedgefield win, while Makin A Fuss and Cuckoo Lane are interesting opponents. The Jennie Candlish-trained selection relishes cut in the ground, with both his career wins having come when those conditions prevailed. Still lightly-raced for an eight-year-old, the switch back to hurdles paid dividends over 3m 3f, but this slight drop back to three miles should not be a problem and he is suggested to defy a 7lb penalty. Makin A Fuss put in a good performance to finish runner-up to Well Green at Newton Abbot last spring, but then fell too early to tell how he would have fared on his chase debut here in November. Now switched straight back to hurdling, he can go well although has to prove he can handle these conditions. Oamaru Stone has plenty of stamina, having won a three-mile Irish point on bottomless ground before joining Paul Nicholls. So far he hasn't fired as perhaps many would have expected, but that is not to say that his handler can't find the key to him, and market support would be interesting. Cuckoo Lane has put in a couple of nice efforts to make the frame on both runs so far and she comes back after a short break today. Victor Dartnall's runners are in good form, so it would be no surprise if she found enough improvement to get seriously competitive, or even win, though we prefer the claims of French Ties.
Cuckoo Lane (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 7th, every chance 3 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 3rd of 16, 5l behind Love of Tara (11-2) at Towcester 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Departed (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Mistake 4th, always behind, 8th of 12, 39l behind Menorah (10-12) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Stagehand (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Held up, ridden approaching 3 out, never dangerous, 6th of 15, 23l behind Classic Dream (10-11) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Dawn At Sea 10-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 7th of 15, 17l behind Lord Crewe (10-8) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Oamaru Stone (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up in last trio, 7th and struggling 3 out, kept on after next, 5th of 9, 20l behind Aldertune (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Makin A Fuss 12-1 (11-8) Held up, fell 3rd, in a race won by Sir Winston (10-13) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp 0-100 (4) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Tara Taylor 8-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 10th of 16, 36l behind Stoop To Conquer (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Posh Emily 16-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on, 3rd of 18, 12l behind Captain Smoothy (10-3) at Exeter 2m 5f 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Norwest (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway when hit 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 11, 38l behind Strategic Approach (11-0) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (4yo+) (4) hvy in Dec.
Back In Business (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up after 16th, in a race won by Obaki de Grissay (10-11) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar '08, 11 ran.
Nearly A Breeze 12-1 (11-0) Towards rear, weakened 3 out, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Captain Smoothy (10-3) at Exeter 2m 5f 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) sft in Dec, 18 ran.
French Ties (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Held up, smooth headway 3 out, led next, stayed on well, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan beating Gouranga (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Sean Thornton (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, chased winner 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, 7th of 13, 43l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-11) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Flowerbud 50-1 (10-7) Held up mid-division, no impression 3 out, 13th of 17, well behind Dolly Penrose (10-10) at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Devito (FR) 12-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, lost place 4th, soon behind, last of 8, well behind Isle de Maurice (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f sell hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Share Option 10-3fav (11-3) Held up in rear, keen early, headway after 7th, weakened flat, 5th of 8, 16l behind Quinte Du Chatelet (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.
