tracked leaders, lost place halfway, soon struggling, behind when pulled up before 5 out
tracked leaders, outpaced 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
made virtually all, drew clear from 3 out, 20 lengths clear last, eased near finish, very easily
held up, mistake 10th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up, hit 2nd, headway halfway, chased winner 11th, effort approaching 4 out, outpaced from next, eased flat
with winner, reminders 9th, lost place 11th, struggling from 5 out, tailed off when blundered 2 out
held up, reminders after 9th, went 3rd after 5 out, no chance from next
Hard Act To Follow can make a winning start over fences, with King Of Confusion and It's Bertie seen as the main dangers. Hard Act to Follow was bought by Graham Wylie after winning an Irish bumper last March and did nothing wrong on each of his first two starts over timber, justifying favouritism at both Ayr and Carlisle. However, he failed his first big test when pulled up behind Black Jack Ketchum in the Sefton Novices Hurdle at Aintree, and was put away to wait for his true vocation, a career over fences. Graham Lee reckons that he could be a star stayer in the making, and as he is sure to have been intensively schooled, is taken to make the best possible start here. Dual Kelso winner King Of Confusion is the more experienced of the pair over hurdles at least, but may not turn out to be as classy over fences. Nevertheless, he is another that will have been well readied and can give the selection most to do. Sue Smith won the Wetherby trainer's title last season and will no doubt make a bold bid to repeat the feat. Her first runner of the new campaign at the Yorkshire track is It's Bertie who was well beaten behind General Alarm on his chase introduction at Sedgefield. He and the rest will need to improve dramatically to trouble the main pair, with preference much for Hard Act To Follow.
Bold 'n' Brave 33-1 (11-4) In touch to 9th, tailed off and pulled up 5 out in race won by Ardaghey (11-4) at Towcester 3m beg chs (4) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
Gunson Hight 13-2 (10-0) In touch, mistake 5 out, effort 3 out, no impression when left 4th last, 4th of 11, 18l behind Yankee Holiday (10-5) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Sept.
Hard Act To Follow (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up 3 out in race won by Black Jack Ketchum (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Apr, 11 ran.
It's Bertie 11-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, blundered 7th, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind General Alarm (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov chs (4) gf in Sept.
King of Confusion (IRE) 5-6fav (11-9) Raced keen, tracked leaders, effort approaching last, one pace under pressure, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Ally Shrimp (11-2) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Rathlin Island 25-1 (10-9) Chased winner, ridden 5 out, weakened next, 3rd of 5, 44l behind General Alarm (10-13) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) gf.
Carnt Spell 50-1 (11-2) Held up and keen, headway approaching 3rd, lost place 7th, hit 9th, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 10, 19l behind Tora Bora (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f beg chs (4) gs.
