led at decent pace, ridden and headed 2 out, not pace of winner flat
in touch in 5th, headway to 3rd 4 out, 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, driven to draw clear flat
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 8th to 3 out, no extra from 2 out and lost 3rd last
tracked leading trio, slow jump and pushed along after 4 out, driven after 3 out, stayed on into one pace 3rd last
held up in rear, ridden and struggling after 4 out, soon lost touch, tailed off
chased leader to 8th, weakened rapidly, jumped right 3 out, tailed off when pulled up approaching next
A modest but competitive opener in which FUNNY FELLOW is the pick with Gabreselassie and Topflight Wildbird on our shortlist. The selection shows his best form around sharp tracks and while his season ended on a downbeat note last term; he had looked progressive beforehand and could be capable of regaining the winning thread. Gabreselassie is tried in a tonguestrap for the first time. Connections have tried their hand over much further than this in the past so it is to be hoped that the rain that has hit the South turns this into an old fashioned slog. Topflight Wildbird is invariably overlooked on account of unfashionable connections. The mare was a tad made a couple of mistakes on her chasing debut before eventually capsizing at the eleventh. Sebastiano stays further than this trip and gets on well with his 7lb amateur. Babe Heffron has proved a resolute front runner in the past and having had two wide margin wins; it remains to be seen as to whether the handicapper has got his measure off this revised mark. Suntini can be a little keen in his races and the market needs to be watched about Emma Lavelle's chasing debutant. Not the easiest of contests to unpick and Funny Fellow may well find conditions most to his liking of this bunch.
Babe Heffron (IRE) 7-2fav (11-11) Made all clear approaching 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in May beating Peak Seasons (10-10) by 14l, 12 ran.
Suntini (GER) 11-4fav (10-0) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, hanging left and weakened approaching last, 4th of 9, 16l behind First Point (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Apr.
Gabreselassie (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Held up, lost place quickly 8th, pulled up after 10th, in a race won by Fortification (10-9) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft, 9 ran.
Sebastiano (FR) 7-2 (11-5) Held up in touch, led 2 out, headed after last, soon weakened, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind American World (11-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Topflight Wildbird 9-1 (11-0) Held up and keen, went 2nd after 6th, fell at 11th, in a race won by Midnight Queen (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs, 8 ran.
Funny Fellow 7-2fav (10-12) Held up, headway 10th, badly hampered next, not recover, weakened into poor 5th when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Fire And Rain (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar, 9 ran.
