held up in rear, took keen hold, headway after 6th, not fluent 3 out, chased winner next, soon driven, no impression flat
tracked leader until ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
raced in last, mistake and lost touch 6th, tailed off
led until mistake 3 out, stumbled 2 out, no extra flat
held up in touch, took keen hold, not fluent, hit 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, challenged after 6th, led 3 out, not fluent next, driven and stayed on well from last
Paddy Partridge needs a market check but FREEDOM FIRE is the percentage call and preferred to Whenwehadmoney who still has something to learn about the game. A penalty obviously makes life trickier for Gary Moore's gelding but he may possess sufficient class to give weight and a beating to his rivals in this contest. He appears to have benefited from the faster ground on his two most recent starts over hurdles having cut little ice in two attempts in the winter and, although he came up short under a penalty last time, he may be able to double his account. Whenwehadmoney finished 3 lengths behind him last time and will be better off this time around with jockeys' claims taken into consideration; that was a step in the right direction but he may need to improve further to open his account. Hypnotic Gaze is heading in the right direction and merits respect whilst Paddy Partridge is an interesting newcomer for a shrewd yard but Freedom Fire is a known quantity and preferred.
Freedom Fire (IRE) 5-1 (10-8) Prominent, chased winner and every chance after 2 out, hit last, one pace, 2nd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Players Please (11-12) at Hereford 2m 1f 4yo nov stks (4) gf in Jun.
Apache Dawn 5-1 (11-2) Took keen hold in touch, ridden after 3 out, outpaced approaching next, 5th of 6, 9l behind Vintage Fabric (10-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.
Yes Minister (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Raced wide, chased leaders until ridden and weakened soon after 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Quartano (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Bedarra Boy 4-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, eased approaching 2 out, 13th of 15, well behind Alazan (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Hypnotic Gaze (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, took keen hold, hampered 1st, headway 3 out, soon close up, jumped left and not fluent last, unable to quicken until stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Rubipresent (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Paddy Partridge 25-1 (8-12) Led, headed over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 38l behind If I Had Him (9-1) at Wolverhampton 2m hacp 0-70 (5) pol in May (flat).
Whenwehadmoney (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, in 3rd going to last, no impression, 3rd of 14, 7l behind Players Please (11-12) at Hereford 2m 1f 4yo nov stks (4) gf in Jun.
