made all, jumped right 1st and 2nd, went clear approaching 3rd, in command from approaching 2 out, easily
held up, ridden 3 out, weakened after
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
prominent, weakened 3rd, tailed off 5th, pulled up before 3 out
chased winner, took close to order 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out
Just the five runners line up for the opening event on a quality card at Wincanton in which the French import Tchico Polos, who is now with Paul Nicholls, sets a decent standard having made a winning start for his new connections when landing a novices' hurdle at Chepstow last month and he has solid claims but he may struggle to give so much weight to RAVELLO BAY, who gets vote over Knightsbridgelives. The last mentioned showed promise in bumpers last season and again on his hurdling debut on his reappearance at Plumpton but he may prefer further than this so looks best watched despite being from the in-form yard of Alan King. Nigel Hawke's Paul Superstar looks out of his depth, while Local Present would need to improve on bumper form to take a hand and preference is for Ravello Bay. Nicky Henderson's mare gets all the allowances going and she looks worth chancing on her hurdling debut having shown a decent level of form in bumpers including when a close fourth in a decent one at Aintree's Grand National meeting. (Nick Millard)
Tchico Polos (FR) 5-2 (10-12) Keen and made all, jumped right home straight, kept on, won at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Ready To Crown (10-5) by 7l, 15 ran.
Knightsbridgelives (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Held up, hit 7th, went moderate 3rd 8th, no impression from 3 out, 3rd of 7, 24l behind Tullamore Dew (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Local Present (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Prominent, led 7f out, ridden 4 lengths clear 2f out, no extra when caught towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Cypress Grove (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f nhf (6) gd in Oct.
Paul Superstar (FR) 66-1 (10-7) Mid-division to halfway, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Simondiun (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Jun, 12 ran.
Ravello Bay 13-2 (11-4) Held up, headway when not much room and nearly went wrong side of marker 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 20, 3 1/2l behind Carole's Legacy (10-12) at Aintree 2m 1f mrs lst nhf (1) gd in Apr.
