always towards rear, made no impression
in rear, mistake 2nd, headway approaching 7th, ridden and weakened after 2 out
prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on after last but no match for winner
never better than midfield, not fluent 3rd, pushed along and weakening approaching 3 out
keen going to post, made all, good jump 6th, extended lead 2 out, good jump last, unchallenged
prominent, pushed along approaching 4th, badly hampered by faller 7th, soon weakened
towards rear of midfield, shaken up approaching 2 out, kept on strongly after last
took keen hold, chased leader, under pressure after 3 out, no chance with winner from 2 out, no extra run-in
never better than midfield, made no telling impression
MATTERHORN has had wind surgery since pulled up on his UK debut at Sandown. A half-brother to a winner in his native France, he may have too much for these if the operation has been a success. Final Encore beat the selection’s stablemate Holetown Hero in a bumper here last year and the runner-up has won twice over hurdles this term. Faded Fantasy didn’t show much on the Flat in Ireland but Lillywave will surely improve on her debut at Hereford.
Bob Bank (IRE) 80-1 (11-2) Led 5f, chased leader until pushed along home turn, weakened final 2f, 6th of 9, 34 1/4l behind Helnwein (11-2) at Ffos Las 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Exmoor Lad 50-1 (11-2) Prominent, pushed along over 3f out and weakened tamely, 10th of 13, dist behind Marvellous Mick (11-2) at Chepstow 2m (5) gs in Dec.
Final Encore 10-3 (11-4) Rear mid-division, pushed along 3f out, headway to chase front rank 2f out, ridden and led final 110 yards, stayed on well, won at Taunton 2m mdn (5) gd in Apr beating Holetown Hero (11-4) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Imprevu Du Large (FR) 150-1 (11-9) Off the pace and always towards rear, tailed off when hit 3 out, 9th of 11, dist behind The King Of Ryhope (11-9) at Exeter 2m 6f mdn (4) gs in Feb.
Matterhorn (FR) 15-8 (11-4) Mid-division, keen early, pushed along and weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last, at Sandown 2m mdn (4) hvy in Nov.
Ventara Kayf Tara gelding out of Venceremos.
Elsieanne 250-1 (10-13) Off the pace and always rear-division, tailed off, 9th of 16, dist behind Hourvari (11-6) at Lingfield 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Feb.
Lillywave 11-1 (11-4) Mid-division, closer at 7th, weakened soon after 3 out, 8th of 11, dist behind Fairy Gem (11-4) at Hereford 2m 6f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Archie Macdart 33-1 (11-0) Always in rear, lost touch 4 out, tailed off, last of 7, 27 1/2l behind Our Follet (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Faded Fantasy (IRE) 33-1 (9-8) Checked soon after leaving stalls and raced in rear, ridden 3f out, no impression, never a factor, 14th of 18, 12 1/4l behind Chally Chute (10-0) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp Yielding in Oct.
