tracked leaders, every chance 2 out, ridden before last, kept on to lead towards finish
led, headed 5th, led again 6th, headed 3 out, led again before 2 out, headed before and hit last, no extra run-in
held up towards rear, headway to challenge 2 out, ridden to lead last, headed towards finish, no extra
held up mid-division, weakened before 2 out, badly hampered last
tracked leader, took keen hold, led 5th, headed 6th, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakened last
held up towards rear and keen, outpaced before 3 out, kept on before last
in rear, in 4th and one pace when fell last
ARAB LEAGUE made it two wins from four starts over timber when scoring here a fortnight ago to land his second novices' hurdle. David Pipe's charge looks up to continuing his progress in handicap company for the first time and gets the nod. Sweet Irony fell on his reappearance in a Grade 2 novices event at Chepstow, but had won his previous two starts earlier in the year and he can figure along with Ange Guerrier, who posted a better effort over these hurdles last time. Dragon's Den is up 10lb for winning at Wincanton last month and recent Sandown fifth Sircozy could prove a bigger threat off his current mark.
Salontyre (GER) 4-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, never trouble leaders, 6th of 10, 22l behind King Of The Night (11-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Arab League (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Made all, ridden after 3 out, clear approaching 2 out, easily, won at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gf beating Daymar Bay (10-5) by 11l, 12 ran.
Sweet Irony (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division when fell 7th, in a race won by Fingal Bay (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Sircozy (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Off the pace in mid-division, slightly hampered 4th, plugged on approaching 2 out, never a threat, 5th of 12, 13l behind Pateese (11-5) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft.
Ange Guerrier (FR) 13-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, 2nd when not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Beside The Fire (11-5) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Marleno (GER) 11-4 (11-12) Raced keenly in rear, slow 3rd and 4th, headway 4 out, soon ridden to challenge, held when hampered and left in 3rd at last, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Saddlers Deal (11-5) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Dragon's Den (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, good headway before 2 out, soon chased leaders, led last, driven clear, won at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Oct beating James Pollard (10-7) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
