took keen hold, soon prominent, led after 5th, jumped left from next, headed 3 out, no extra flat
held up in rear, hampered 3 out, never on terms
tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th, led going well and jumped left from 3 out, shaken up after last, soon clear
in rear, slowed up and unseated rider 1st
took keen hold in touch, not much room on inside and lost place after 5th, weakened 8th, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, weakened before 3 out
always in rear, tailed off 7th, pulled up after
mid-division, ridden 3 out, left 4th 2 out, never on terms with leaders
held up towards rear, headway when mistake 7th, 3 lengths 3rd when blundered 2 out, weakened flat
led until 2nd, lost place approaching 6th, weakened before 8th, tailed off
prominent, steadied 2nd, mistake 7th, ridden next, headway approaching 3 out, 4th and staying on when jinked right and unseated rider just before 2 out
prominent, took keen hold, led 2nd, headed after 5th, weakening when mistake 3 out, tailed off
towards rear, not fluent 5th, mistake 7th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
It is difficult to choose between Richard Lee's two runners but neither Daring Origyn nor Simply Wings seem likely to be good enough to land the opener with a better bet looking to be HIGHLAND VALLEY. Emma Lavelle's gelding won his only start so far in a Wincanton bumper in good fashion in February and he can follow up here on his hurdling debut. The Paul Nicholls-trained That'lldoboy won his only outing in a point-to-point and has to be considered on his rules debut, while Alan King's Shrewd Investment has shown gradual improvement in his three outings in bumpers and now makes his first appearance over timber. Anything trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies has to be respected and Perth bumper winner Skipper Robin, who made an encouraging first outing over hurdles at Market Rasen recently, is no exception.
Daring Origyn (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Held up behind, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, ridden 2 out, well held 4th when blundered last, no impresssion, 4th of 17, 20l behind Corso Palladio (11-0) at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Oct.
El Diego (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 15, 33l behind Rif (10-12) at Towcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Highland Valley (IRE) 9-4fav (11-4) Held up, chased leaders 5f out, led 1f out, driven out, won at Wincanton 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Feb beating Seismic Wave (10-5) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
History Lesson 33-1 (10-7) In rear, jumped slow 2nd, reminders after 3rd, blundered 4 out, never dangerous, 10th of 12, well behind Black Jack Blues (11-8) at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Master Alfredo 250-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, in rear, not fluent 3rd and 7th, well outpaced in last when fell 2 out, in a race won by Phidippides (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Feb, 6 ran.
One And All (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Always behind, pushed along 4th, struggling in rear when hit 4 out, last of 9, well behind Mr Gardner (11-2) at Newbury 2m 5f mdn hdl (3) gd in Mar '09.
Rabbitkettle Lake (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, weakened 5f out, tailed off, 14th of 16, well behind Mr Hudson (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in May.
Shrewd Investment 11-2 (10-10) Disputed lead until 9f out, led over 4f out until 3f out, soon ridden, switched left inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Dunraven Storm (11-9) at Exeter 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Simply Wings (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 7, 30l behind Viking Blond (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Mar.
Sir Mattie (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leader and keen, hit 1st, weakened before 4 out, 6th of 12, well behind Alverstone (10-2) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Skipper Robin (FR) 6-1 (10-11) Not fluent, chased leaders, driven and outpaced after 3 out, ridden to chase leading trio before next, kept on same pace, never on terms, 4th of 7, 21l behind Get It On (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
That'lldoboy (FR) 4-5 (10-7) Ap; sust chall 2 out; led cl home, won at Ston Easton 3m ptp in Mar beating How Are You Going (12-0) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Waldsee (GER) 18-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, pushed along and weakened over 4f out, 14th of 15, well behind Emirate Isle (9-0) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Oct (flat).
