led, ridden and headed before last, kept on and no chance with winner
tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 3 out, in 3rd and every chance when fell last
held up in touch in 4th, headway before 3 out, ridden before and left 3rd from last, kept on same pace, lost 3rd place towards finish
tracked leader, led before last, soon clear, easily
held up in rear, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, kept on same pace went 3rd towards finish
FIRST MOHICAN (NAP) has his first run over hurdles since March but has been in action on the Flat this year, finishing third in a Listed race at Newbury in May. He won on his debut over timber here and is possibly a bit better than his current rating would suggest. Kashmir Peak hasn't won for a while but looks in decent nick and did win a Grade 2 novice event here in 2012. He can't be ignored as he gets 9lb from Laudatory, who is better on sharper tracks than this. Softsong's fourth at Huntingdon last month was a solid effort but he's probably better over further nowadays and the handicapper may have got to Honey Pound. Zafranagar might come up short at this level.
Laudatory 16-1 (10-9) Chased leader until pushed along after 4 out, chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, last of 11, 32l behind Sign Of A Victory (10-12) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Nov.
First Mohican 5-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, raced freely, settled into mid-division after 2nd, headway 2 out, never able to challenge, 4th of 17, 9l behind Oscar Hoof (11-7) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Softsong (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Held up in touch, closed 6th, challenged next, led before 2 out, soon headed, 4th and no extra last, 4th of 11, 17l behind Volnay De Thaix (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) sft in Nov.
Kashmir Peak (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, ridden to challenge next, not pace of winner, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Exitas (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Zafranagar (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden in 3rd last, kept on, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Vasco Du Ronceray (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Honey Pound (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Led, not fluent 4 out, headed before 3 out, weakened approaching next, 14th of 19, well behind Chesterfield (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Nov.
