held up in touch, mistake 5 out, under pressure after next, soon weakened, tailed off
held up towards rear, slow 8th, lost touch 10th, tailed off 6 out
prominent, led 4th, hit 10th, headed next, weakening when mistake 4 out, soon pulled up
held up in rear, jumped slowly in places, hard driven 12th, headway to chase leaders next, stayed on same pace from 2 out
tracked leaders, driven 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, effort 3 out, weakened after next
led until 4th, led again 11th, strongly challenged after last, headed post
held up in rear but in touch, headway before 3 out, chased leader next, switched right to challenge lat, every chance flat, stayed on gamely to lead post
chased leaders, outpaced 5 out, rallied after next, kept on under pressure after last, never able to challenge
How's My Friend will be 14 next month but his advanced age didn't prevent him completing a hat-trick on testing ground at Towcester earlier this year. A chance would have to be taken on fitness but he's probably been out with the hunt so should be ready. Dual hurdles winner Pink Gin has never won over fences but has gone close on a couple of occasions including in better company. Very Live has won twice over fences, both times on heavy going including on this track though over much shorter. FOR CARMEL ended the last campaign scoring over 2m5f on soft ground and will have needed last month's comeback over hurdles and just gets the nod over Pray For A Rainbow, who has only had two starts over fences but scored over hurdles on heavy ground at this track.
Pink Gin 12-1 (11-9) In rear, headway before 6 out, ridden after last, kept on towards finish, 4th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Heluvagood (11-2) at Exeter 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
How's My Friend 5-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, soon chased leaders, led 2 out, held on well, won at Towcester 3m hcp (5) hvy in Mar beating Try It Sometime (10-2) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
For Carmel (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Prominent, effort after 4 out, weakening when blundered 2 out, 6th of 13, 20 1/4l behind Solstice Star (11-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Tzar De L'Elfe (FR) 20-1 (11-1) Mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 23l behind Norse Legend (11-7) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Very Live (FR) 9-2 (11-8) Prominent, not always fluent, led 5th, jumped right and reminder 7th, headed 7th, upsides winner last, stayed on, just held close home, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Burgess Dream (10-3) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Apr.
Pray For A Rainbow 9-2 (11-4) Prominent, ridden and not quicken 2 out, went 2nd and stayed on flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Aquarian (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Big Time Frank (IRE) 3-1jfav (10-6) In rear, left 4th 12th, outpaced 14th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 7, dist behind Cucklington (11-10) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Burgess Dream (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Always in rear, mistake 12th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next, at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Snowball (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Chased leaders on inside, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 10, 7 3/4l behind Cheque En Blanc (11-11) at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
