led, headed 8th, led again approaching 3 out, hard ridden after next, stayed on strongly
held up in rear, headway approaching 5th, ridden to challenge when mistake 2 out, chased winner last, hung right and no extra towards finish
pulled hard in touch, chased leader 3rd, mistake next, under pressure 3 out, faded
pulled hard soon in touch, weakened 8th, tailed off 3 out
raced keenly, chased leaders, led 8th, headed 3 out, soon driven, weakened last
With the principals making their chasing debuts, the quality of jumping will be crucial. Mister Wall Street finally came good over timber when battling on stoutly last time after a rather low-key hurdling career but has always looked a chaser in the making. However, MONOGRAM was certainly the better hurdler of the pair and in the hope that all is well with him, is taken to get his chasing life off to a winning start. He's had his problems in what has been a very light career to date but has always looked a potentially useful sort. Veronicas Boy is an ordinary handicap hurdler but still deserving of a place on the short-list.
Mister Wall Street (FR) 15-8fav (11-0) Made all, ridden and pressed last, found extra and in command final 100 yards, won at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd beating Alpha One (11-0) by 2l, 10 ran.
Monogram 5-2fav (11-12) Pulled hard in touch, headway to track leaders from 4 out, went 2nd approaching next and going well, mistake 2 out, ridden approaching and hit last, soon weakened, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Borero (10-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Riskier 10-1 (10-7) Led and keen, blundered and unseated rider 10th, in a race won by Catch Bob (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chase (4) gd in Mar, 5 ran.
Still Calm 25-1 (10-12) Held up, mistake 6th, behind when blundered 2 out, 4th of 5, 46l behind Indian Groom (10-12) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (4) gf.
Veronicas Boy 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace before last, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Mycenean Prince (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
Just Posh 25-1 (10-5) Close up, ridden 10th, outpaced 12th, 4th of 5, 25l behind Montoya's Son (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (3) gf.
Soneva Gili (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Always in rear, struggling from 5th, pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Amjad (9-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Mar, 14 ran.
