in rear, not jumped well, lost touch 5th, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, plugged on again
led and soon clear, blundered 5th, weakening when headed 2 out
in rear and keen, mistake 1st, rider lost irons and pulled up approaching 2nd
held up, outpaced 3 out, ridden and short lived effort 2 out
in touch, mistake 1st, not fluent and lost place 3rd, steady progress 4 out, chased winner from 2 out, one pace
held up rear, steady headway 4 out, ridden after 3 out, soon held
keen, in touch, lost place 4th, ridden 2 out, held when mistake last
keen and in rear when unseated rider 1st
Proper did the job well enough on debut but this field could throw up one or two fair sorts and he could be vulnerable under his penalty as a result. NONO LE SAGE is the suggestion with Classic Swain and Castellina others to bear in mind. None Le Sage looked to be a promising recruit to the game when winning his bumper for Henry Daly but he hasn't gone on over hurdles for his new yard. He may be better on a faster surface, which he gets here, and there may also have been a problem as he's now fitted with a tongue strap which we'll hope will do the track. Classic Swain weakened tamely on debut at Kempton which was disappointing even allowing for the fact that his Flat form suggests that he will not come into his own until stepped up in trip. Proper was a seventy rated handicapper on the Flat and won't pull up any trees over hurdles but he did the job well enough at Huntingdon and has to be respected given the lack of solid form in opposition. Back Is Back, Randjo and Castellina are others that are worth more than a cursory glance but we'll be hoping for better from Nono Le Sage.
Proper (IRE) 11-4jt-fav (10-13) Held up mid-division, headway 4th, led 2 out, ran on flat, won at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Aug beating That Man Fox (10-7) by 1l, 11 ran.
Apache Indian (USA) 66-1 (10-12) Always in rear, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Ready To Crown (10-5) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (5) gd, 14 ran.
Back Is Back (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) 12th of 16, well behind Copper Bleu (11-0) at Newbury 2m nh mdn hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Nono Le Sage (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Chased leader, every chance briefly approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 16, well behind Acordeon (11-2) at Ludlow 2m nh mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Thetearsthaticry (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Chased leader, ridden and weakened 7th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Barnhill Brownie (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs in Oct, 11 ran.
Castellina 10-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 3 out, beaten when unseated rider at the last in race won by Izita Star (10-8) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (5) gd, 14 ran.
Classic Swain (USA) 5-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, mistake 5th, ridden and weakened before 2 out where jumped left, tailed off, 7th of 10, 43l behind Starluck (11-8) at Kempton 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Dec.
Randjo (FR) (10-3) 9th of 20, 41l behind Sucess River (10-6) at Enghien 2m hdl in Nov.
Woody's Dream (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, in rear, headway and hit 2 out, one pace and no impression after, 6th of 15, 25l behind Silk Hall (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Hardly Humble 33-1 (10-10) In touch, mistake 4th, weakened 3 out and pulled up 4 out in race won by Sparkling Montjeu (11-2) at Taunton 2m 1f 4yo fll hdl (4) sft, 9 ran.
