led until before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, in touch 4 out, never near leaders, jumped left and no impression 2 out
tracked leader, hit 7th and pecked, challenged after 4 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake last
held up in touch, took keen hold, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, took keen hold, fell 2nd
tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, mistake 4 out, led before next, joined last, soon headed, stayed on
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, outpaced 2 out, rallied to challenged last, soon led, comfortably
This looks a strong contest for the track as a couple of these may have Festival aspirations. VULCANITE was just below the best of last season's crop of novice hurdlers but was still very useful and he made a winning reappearance in effortless fashion in a Fakenham handicap. McCoy is in the saddle again and the five-year-old should make a successful start over the larger obstacles if jumping adequately. Salden Licht had his problems last year and returns from a lengthy lay-off but he's worth noting for future reference if he can recapture his form while Grams And Ounces came up against a smart novice in Sire De Grugy at Kempton last time and should go one better sooner rather than later. Monarch's Way will do well if translating his hurdles form to fences but Furrows and Oddjob may be better for the run and Final Flyer doesn't look up to this level.
Final Flyer (IRE) 25-1 (9-13) Prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened after next, 9th of 17, 38l behind Tresor De Bontee (11-4) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Furrows 13-2 (11-3) Held up in last pair, headway headway approaching 3 out, modest 4th when hit last, weakened flat, 5th of 10, 7l behind Western King (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in May.
Grams And Ounces 6-1 (10-9) Mid-division, not always fluent, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Sire De Grugy (11-2) at Kempton 2m beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Monarch's Way 12-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, never on terms, weakened flat, 9th of 20, 20l behind Hada Men (10-8) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Oddjob (IRE) 50-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, lost place approaching 6th, hit 3 out, some late progress, no impression, 5th of 15, 25l behind Radetsky March (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan '11.
Salden Licht 25-1 (11-7) Held up in touch in 4th, chased winner approaching 3 out until last, stayed on same pace flat, held by front pair, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Oscar Whisky (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hdl G1 (1) gd in Apr '11.
Vulcanite (IRE) 11-8fav (11-11) Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, went 2nd when mistake next, led after 3 out, clear last, ridden out, won at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Oct beating Cheshire Prince (10-6) by 7l, 11 ran.
