held up, closed to track leading pair 3rd, chased winner before 3 out, no impression when lost 2nd next, weakened before last
chased winner until mistake and weakened 3 out
held up, closed from 8th, effort 3 out, chased winner next, no impression well before last
in touch to 3rd, struggling 5th, tailed off when mistake 7th, pulled up before last
held up, struggling 5th, soon tailed off
made all and set good pace, in command between last 2, drew away before last, unchallenged
Monkerhostin took advantage of a favourable mark over fences when landing the Bonusprint here last month but faces no easy task returning to hurdles today and preference is for Big Moment, who gets the verdict over Westender. The last mentioned has not won for some time and is unlikely to do so again here with the lack of pace as much a concern as the form of Martin Pipe's horses. Monkerhostin has an obvious chance but would also want a good gallop to be shown at his best and in receipt of weight Big Moment looks a better bet. Amanda Perrett's gelding has won a Listed race on the flat since his latest second behind Mistanoora in Chepstow's Silver Trophy in October and has the speed to take advantage of any lack of pace in the race. The seven-year-old makes more appeal than Astonville, who makes his debut for Michael Scudamore having shown respectable form in France previously. Both Box On and Hi Tech look out of their depth in a race that is taken to go to Big Moment.
