held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway on outside approaching 8th, went 2nd after 3 out, soon ridden, led 2 out, stayed on well
mid-division, headway approaching 8th, not fluent next, ridden after 3 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake 2 out
led until after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 6th, jumped right and weakened 8th, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway approaching 8th, mistake next, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up in touch, close up 8th until after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leader, not fluent 3rd, weakened approaching 8th, tailed off
mid-division, pushed along approaching 5th, soon ridden and lost place, well tailed off before 8th, pulled up after
chased leaders, went 2nd before 8th, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
BARAFUNDLE is just preferred here at the weights, while Double Pride and Present To You are others with claims. The selection has been well placed to win two of his five starts and make the frame on the other trio. He was comfortably beaten at Catterick last time, but the return to this longer trip will suit, as will good ground, and he can come back to form. Double Pride is likely to emerge as the leading danger. Alan King's gelding is bred to relish a test of stamina and soft ground, so conditions here are not ideal for him. Even so, he has a similar profile to the selection in terms of being well placed by his handler and he looks likely to go close. Present To You won an Irish point last summer and has been going the right way over hurdles since joining Philip Hobbs. The trainer's string is in good form at the moment, fuelling confidence that this five-year-old can run a big race on ground that will suit. An interesting contender is Just Paris, who is given his hurdles debut by Charlie Mann after a quiet introduction in a bumper at Ffos Las a month or so ago. This test of stamina will suit and a market check is encouraged. Punjabi Army has some ability but has failed to complete on his last three starts and looks a risky proposition, and preference is for Barafundle.
Barafundle (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway from 3 out, no impression from next, 3rd of 13, 16l behind Truckers Hall (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) gs in Feb.
Double Pride 2-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway after 7th, went 2nd 9th, led after 2 out, driven out, won at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Broughton Green (11-11) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Alaska View (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Took keen hold, led until fell 7th, in a race won by Peveril (11-11) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb, 17 ran.
Coppingers Court (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Jmpd delib; in tch til wknd 14, 4th of 9, 19l behind Something Small (12-0) at Chaddesley Corbett 3m ptp in Apr '07.
Just Paris 11-2 (11-4) Mid-division, plugged on one pace final 2f, 8th of 15, 46l behind Dare Me (11-11) at Ffos Las 2m NH flat (6) gs in Feb.
Present To You (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, headway after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 13, 7l behind Chartreux (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Punjabi Army 11-2 (11-0) Held up, weakened 12th mistake next, soon behind, pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Commanche Dream (10-7) at Fakenham 3m beg chase (4) sft in Feb, 6 ran.
Safeguard (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before last, in a race won by Predictive (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec, 15 ran.
Tannenberg (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, mistake 3 out, went 4th 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 9, 46l behind Double Pride (11-4) at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
