in rear and jumped slow 1st, in touch halfway, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
led, headed before 3rd, lost 2nd place before 4 out, faded from next
tracked leaders in 3rd, chased winner before 4 out, ridden an every chance run-in, kept on and no extra near finish
tracked leader, led before 3rd, clear from 6th, jumped right 3 out and 2 out, ridden and pressed run-in, held on towards finish
UPSANDDOWNS' jumping was a bit novicey at Newton Abbot but he won as he liked and the runner-up was second in a handicap subsequently. Evan Williams' charge looks the one to beat in this ahead of the returning Yes Daddy and Georgie Lad. Brave Helios has a couple of seconds to his name, including last time, but also has a bit to find with the selection off level weights.
Yes Daddy (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Mid-division, some headway 3 out, no impression, well beaten after 2 out, 10th of 13, 47l behind Franciscan (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f amt hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Apr.
Brave Helios 9-1 (10-12) With leader, led 2nd, headed after 2 out, not much room on bend soon after, not fluent last, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Authorship (11-5) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Georgie Lad (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Close up, short of room soon after 7th, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 21l behind Volcanic (11-5) at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Upsanddowns (IRE) 2-5fav (10-8) Not fluent early, made all, clear from 4th, stumbled 2 out, unextended, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f cond mdn hdle (5) gd in Sep beating Northern Bay (10-11) by 28l, 6 ran.
