with leaders, outright lead and made most from 3rd, went right 13th, strongly pressed and hard ridden flat, always just doing enough and on top close home
with leaders, chased winner from 3rd, led briefly 10th, bumped 13th, lost 2nd before blundered and lost 2nd 3 out, weakened soon after
last pair, blundered 8th, mistake next, not fluent 10th, unseated rider next
held up in touch, dropped to rear 7th, struggling when fell 14th
with leaders until 3rd, remained in close 3rd until before 10th, ridden after 13th, weakened next, tailed off
held up in last pair, ridden in 5th after 13th, went 3rd 15th, chased winner before 3 out, slight peck 2 out, upsides and slight peck last, strong challenge flat, always just held
chased leaders, went 3rd before 10th until 15th, outpaced 4 out, went modest 3rd again 3 out
BARBERS SHOP landed the odds in one of these events at Fakenham last time and looks a cut above today's opponents. Hills Of Aran has been placed on his last two starts and had Starburst Diamond well behind at Warwick last month, while Charles Bruce finished a distance behind Palypso De Creek when the latter was third at Towcester on his latest outing. King Of The Road was beaten out of sight despite finishing second at Cheltenham last May and winning pointer Merry Vic makes his debut under Rules.
Barbers Shop 8-13fav (11-7) Keen tracked leader, led 4th, made rest, very easy, won at Fakenham 3m hts chs (6) gs beating Eleazar (12-1) by 9l, 3 ran.
Starburst Diamond (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Held up in mid-division, ridden after 10th, struggling 13th, 7th of 12, 43l behind Monkerty Tunkerty (11-5) at Warwick 3m hts chs (6) gs in Jan.
Charles Bruce (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Always well behind, tailed off, 7th of 17, well behind Lorikarad (11-9) at Towcester 2m 6f hts chs (6) sft in Jan.
Hills Of Aran 5-1 (11-5) Led to 2nd, took keen hold, not fluent, dropped towards rear before 3rd, headway on inner before 6th, a lot before last, stayed on strongly run-in, nearest finish, 3rd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Unowatimeen (11-5) at Haydock 3m hts chs (3) hvy.
King Of The Road 7-2 (12-5) Ap; went 2nd 3 out; kpt on, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Marblehead (12-5) at Dunthrop 4m ptp gd in Jan.
Merry Vic (IRE) 1-3 (12-7) Ap; led 9; easy, won at Tweseldown 3m ptp gf in Apr '10 beating Cherokee Star (12-0) by 10l, 4 ran.
Palypso De Creek (FR) 9-2 (11-7) In touch, lost ground on leaders 7th, headway after 12th, 4th and one pace 2 out, went 3rd close home, no impression, 3rd of 17, 13l behind Lorikarad (11-9) at Towcester 2m 6f hts chs (6) sft in Jan.
