held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 3rd, headway after 5th, challenging when carried right and hampered 2 out, soon switched left, ran on flat, not quite able to get back to winner
tracked leader, pushed along after 3 out, led 2 out, soon edged right, driven out
held up in rear, jumped badly, lost touch 3 out
led, took keen hold, jumped right and got worse as race progressed, reminder after 4th, headed 2 out, no extra close home
held up in 4th, not fluent, mistake 3 out, close up when blundered 2 out, no extra flat
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, lost place 5th, weakened approaching 2 out
took keen hold, held up, not fluent 1st, weakened approaching 2 out
SMART FREDDY profited from a drop in grade on his return from a break to trounce previous winners Sara's Smile and Captain Sully at Southwell last month. He looks the type to run up a sequence now he's got his head in front and should have few problems following up here. He's Our Lad won over a longer trip here in March but was beaten when blundering and unseating Rachael Green at Uttoxeter in May and will struggle to keep tabs on Lawney Hill's gelding in this. Salford Rose didn't show much over hurdles in the autumn and returns from a lay-off here.
Hes Our Lad (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up behind, headway after 4 out, chased leading pair when hit next, soon ridden and one pace, 8 lengths down in 3rd and no impression when blundered and unseated rider after last, in a race won by Cotillion (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May, 8 ran.
Smart Freddy 10-11fav (10-9) Tracked leader, led 3 out, driven next, soon clear, ridden out, won at Southwell 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Jun beating Sara's Smile (11-5) by 27l, 9 ran.
All But Beat 33-1 (11-4) In touch, lost place and behind from halfway, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Camden (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gs in Nov.
Red Whisper 40-1 (10-11) Behind, headway into mid-division 4 out, never near leaders, tailed off, 7th of 11, 42l behind Dineur (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f NH mdn hdl (4) gd in May.
Gwendraeth Girl (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Close 5th, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 11, 20l behind Tara Rose (10-13) at Worcester 2m mares n h flat (6) gf in Jun.
Harrys Whim 20-1 (10-10) Raced keenly, held up in last pair, headway and in touch on long run between last 2, weakened approaching last, 5th of 8, 21l behind Desolait (10-10) at Hexham 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Salford Rose (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, led until wandered 1st, led after next, headed 4th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 24l behind Ixora (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Oct.
