held up in touch, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, switched left after last, never able to challenge (finished 3rd disqualified and placed 4th)
tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 9th, under pressure 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, not fluent 5th, badly hampered 9th, soon beaten
mid-division, headway before 3 out, soon chasing leaders, every chance 2 out, stayed on to lead after last
in touch, driven 3 out, soon weakened
behind, headway after 3 out, staying on when hampered after last, never nearer (finished 4th, awarded 3rd place)
raced keenly and prominent, joined leader approaching 5th, led before 9th, headed and no extra after last
held up towards rear, beaten when badly hampered 9th, behind when pulled up last
in touch, not fluent 6th, travelling strongly when fell 9th
led, headed approaching 9th, lost place 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out
HASANPOUR is a tentative selection to win this staying handicap hurdle after a pleasing effort on his first attempt at this trip three weeks ago. His main dangers look to be those returning from long breaks off the track, among them, Fullards, the veteran Toulouse-Lautrec while Wizards Dust was well backed to win on his chasing debut but did not look to buy to the task. Formerly a smart juvenile hurdler for Charlie Swan in Ireland, Hasanpour has shown very little in his three UK outings prior to last time out where he was held-up to get the extended three mile trip. While one could not say he truly saw out the trip, this does not look as good a race and he should be thereabouts provided the ground does not get any more testing. Wizards Dust has not appeared the most willing in his two starts since his summer break but on his form from last season he would be a leading player. His sole victory was achieved off 88 but it is hard to imagine that even off his current mark he could not be competitive given his lightly raced profile. Toulouse-Lautrec has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons but has proved in the past he goes well fresh. The yards small number of runners having been performing well and should he attract support it would be foolish to dismiss him, despite his advancing years. Fullards is another that has not been easy to train and only had one outing last season in a hunter chase. He is a dour stayer but his form pattern is regressive. Hasanpour is given the vote to land the opener.
Fullards 11-4co-fav (11-7) Held up in touch, ridden 3 out, soon no impression, 5th of 7, 16l behind Itzacliche (11-7) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hts chs (6) gd in Apr.
Wizards Dust 11-4 (11-11) Led to 3rd, reminder approaching 10th, chased leader until 12th, soon ridden, weakened approaching next, 5th of 6, 28l behind Can't Buy Time (11-9) at Southwell 3m nov hcp chs (4) gd in Oct.
Celebrity Call (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) In touch, not jumped well from 10th, weakened from 12th, 7th of 10, 47l behind Earcomesannie (9-10) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.
Hasanpour (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon ridden, kept on to go 3rd flat, 3rd of 11, 13l behind Terramarique (11-9) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
Ortega (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Lost touch from 3rd, tailed off 10th, 3rd of 4, well behind Strong Coffee (11-4) at Southwell 3m beg chs (3) gd in Oct.
Better Moment (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, stayed on same pace from 2 out, jumped right last, 8th of 18, 4 1/2l behind Picky (11-5) at Towcester 2m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Toulouse-Lautrec (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Prominent, mistake 3 out, every chance approaching 2 out, weakened between last 2, 4th of 13, 19l behind Glen Omen (11-6) at Warwick 3m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Cemgraft 33-1 (11-1) Slowly away, always well behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Picky (11-5) at Towcester 2m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct, 18 ran.
Elliott 40-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden and lost place 7th, 8th of 12, 25l behind Wild Tonto (11-9) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Jul.
Sir Leonard (IRE) 50-1 (10-6) Always in rear, 11th of 16, 31l behind Native City (11-7) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.