mid-division, strong headway approaching 2 out, hit and led last, unchallenged
led, driven before 2 out, headed just after last, no extra
in touch, pushed along 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, hard ridden to challenge 2 out, slightly outpaced, stayed on strongly flat, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, soon one pace
held up towards rear, headway when blundered last, never on terms
mistake 1st, always behind, not jumped well throughout
tracked leader, under pressure after 3 out, weakened before last
held up in rear, pulled hard, under pressure 4 out, soon beaten
held up in rear, good headway before 2 out, soon ridden and one pace
in touch, gradually lost place 3 out, tailed off
Wade Farm Billy opened his account at the seventh time of asking over hurdles when landing a maiden hurdle in good fashion at Towcester when last seen in May and he has to be respected but may struggle to defy the penalty and a better bet looks to be PEPE SIMO, who gets the vote ahead of Qaspal. The last mentioned looks the pick of the two runners in the race trained by Philip Hobbs ahead of Doctor Foxtrot having run well on his only start in a Gowran Park bumper. Diamond Brook has gone well in both starts so far, latterly when a close fourth behind Kingsben in what looked a decent novices' hurdle at Bangor and he has to be considered. Charlie Mann's Eastern Paramour ran to a decent level of form in bumpers prior to be being completely outclassed in the bumper at Aintree on Grand National day and he could be of interest first time up over hurdles. The vote though goes the way of Pepe Simo, who showed a decent level of form in bumpers for Paul Nicholls including when ninth in the Champion Bumper at the festival and, having made a winning start to his hurdling career in good fashion here last month, he can score again.
Pepe Simo (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, soon chasing leaders, led approaching last, edged left, kept on well, won at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Henry King (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Wade Farm Billy (IRE) 6-5fav (10-12) Pressed leader, led approaching 3rd, drew clear after 3f out, easily, won at Towcester 2m nov hdl (4) gf in May beating Dashing Bach (10-12) by 9l, 13 ran.
Campfire Tales (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, led 2nd to 3rd, chased leader to 5th, weakened 3 out, 10th of 11, 37l behind Another Trump (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Aug.
Diamond Brook (IRE) 13-8 (10-12) Held up mid-division, chased leaders 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 11, 27l behind Kingsben (10-5) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Doctor Foxtrot (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) In touch, outpaced over 4f out, no impression after, 5th of 16, 16l behind No Principles (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn NH flat (6) sft in May.
Kauto The Roc (FR) 66-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway 4th, weakened approaching 3 out where mistake, tailed off, 12th of 16, well behind Rebel Du Maquis (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Miller's Dawn 33-1 (11-4) Held up, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, tailed off, 15th of 19, 40l behind Sitting Tennant (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nat hunt flat Grade 2 (1) gs in Apr.
Normandy Landings 125-1 (10-12) Led, mistake 7th, headed next, weakened after 3 out, last of 12, well behind Persian Run (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Qaspal (FR) 7-2 (11-10) Soon led and clear, ridden along 3f out, strongly pressed 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 18, 3/4l behind Oligarch Society (11-6) at Gowran Park 2m N H flat gd in Oct '08.
Eastern Paramour (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Always in rear, struggling over 4f out, tailed off, 19th of 20, well behind Candy Creek (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f N H flat lst (1) gd in Apr.
I'm Henrietta 125-1 (9-12) Always behind, 13th of 14, well behind Pepe Simo (10-12) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Mrs Overall 11-1 (10-9) Held up, pushed along halfway, never dangerous, 8th of 12, well behind Alverstone (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f N H flat (6) gd in Oct.
