in rear in 4th, blundered 7th, went 3rd before 4 out, left 2nd and well held 2 out, kept on and no impression
tracked leaders, with leader 6th, led 4 out, clear before 3 out, well in command when fell 2 out
led, not fluent 1st, headed 3rd, tracked winner, ridden before 4 out, weakened before next
with leader, led 3rd, blundered and headed 4 out, held in 2nd when left in lead and clear from 2 out
This is all about whether OVERTURN can safely negotiate these tricky fences. Donald McCain's eight-year-old, winner of the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle around this time last year and a brave second in the Champion Hurdle in March, should win this in a hack canter if the fences don't get in the way. Ulysee Collonges, successful over hurdles and fences in France over the summer, looks the one for forecast-backers as Exotic Man and Heez A Cracker have both been off the track for a while and Little Jimmy has yet to show any sign of ability.
Exotic Man (FR) 16-1 (10-6) Held up in touch on outside, challenged 3 out, led approaching 2 out, headed and not fluent at hurdle, stayed on, held by winner, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Plan A (11-12) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr '11.
Heez A Cracker (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before next, 11th of 17, 36l behind Firm Order (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Feb '11.
Little Jimmy 100-1 (11-1) Prominent until mistake 3rd, weakened after 5th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Charm School (10-13) at Ffos Las 2m mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Ulysse Collonges (FR) (10-3) won at Dieppe(FR) 2m 1f 4yo chs hvy in Jul beating Unegarde (10-10) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Overturn (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Led, pushed along and joined 2 out, soon headed, kept on under pressure flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Rock On Ruby (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl G1 (1) gd in Mar.
