chased leader, led 3 out, ridden and held when fell 2 out
held up in mid-division, ridden after 3 out, no impression
soon led, headed 3 out, ridden after, weakened 2 out
pulled hard and held up last, ridden 2 out, one pace
prominent, headway after 3 out, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace
held up in touch, headway on bit approaching 2 out, soon challenged, left in lead 2 out, headed after last, shaken up and led 100 yards out, pushed out, comfortably
pulled early and held up towards rear, ridden and left 2nd 2 out, led after last, soon hung left and headed, not pace of winner
held up in mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, left close 3rd 2 out, not quicken after
From a short list containing Kicks For Free, Presentandcorrect and Karinga Kream, the strong vote goes to Kicks For Free. Third in both the Aintree and Cheltenham Festival bumpers, Kicks For Free looks a nice hurdling prospect and must be given serious consideration here. Presentandcorrect's bumper form rates as decent and he should make the grade as a hurdler. Of the others, Good Time Willie showed some promise over course and distance last time, as did Karinga Kream on his Exeter hurdling debut, and Alan King's The Big Canadian is a potential improver. Overall, though, the vote has to go to Kicks For Free.
Fixed Interest (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Chased leaders until weakened over 3f out, 7th of 11, 10l behind Haligreen (10-0) at Plumpton 2m 2f mdn nhf (6) gd in Oct.
Galaxia (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway halfway, ridden over 3f out, weakened quickly, 18th of 20, well behind Grecian Groom (10-11) at Huntingdon 2m nhf (6) gf in Apr.
Good Time Willie (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden and outpaced 3 out, stayed on same pace to go 3rd close home, 3rd of 9, 24l behind Pepporoni Pete (10-12) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
It Happened Out (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, short lived effort after 7th, no impression, 6th of 16, 31l behind Bradley Boy (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Karinga Kream 33-1 (10-9) Held up, headway 5th, mistake 3 out, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 12, 13l behind Wotchalike (10-7) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Kicks For Free (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Held up, headway halfway, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, wandered about inside final furlong, headed and no extra towards finish, 3rd of 22, 1 1/2l behind Pangbourne (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nhf Grd 2 (1) gs in Apr.
Presentandcorrect (IRE) 8-11fav (11-4) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, chased winner 7f out, hung badly left from 3f out, soon no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 10l behind Risk Challenge (10-11) at Ludlow 2m nhf (5) gd in Mar.
The Big Canadian (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up, bumped 4 out, blundered 2 out, not recover, 7th of 17, 30l behind Bleak House (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
