mid-division, some headway before 2 out, soon ridden, 4th last, no impression, one pace
mid-division, well beaten from 3 out
towards rear on outside, well beaten from 3 out
tracked leader, challenged 3rd, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, 3rd and held last, kept on
led, not fluent 4th, headed after 3 out, beaten next, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden and one pace from 2 out, no impression
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, closed after 2nd, slow next, lost place 5th, well beaten from 3 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, pushed along to lead 2 out, edged slightly left, bumped before being headed last, no impression on winner towards finish
towards rear, headway after 3 out, 3rd when jumped right and hit last, edged left and bumped rival then led last, stayed on, in command towards finish
jumped erratically in rear, behind 3rd, pulled up before 3 out
Second twice in four starts over hurdles, including behind Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills at Plumpton, THE FLYING SOFA unsurprisingly found the competition much too hot in the Supreme Novices’. He should be up to winning this, though is unlikely to be much of a price. Chapmanshype won a bumper in Ireland in the autumn while Shillingsworth could grab a place even though his completion record leaves something to be desired.
Chapmanshype (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Pulled hard early, chased leaders, lost place halfway, soon behind, last of 11, dist behind Eden Du Houx (11-4) at Ascot 2m lst (1) sft in Dec.
Clondaw Whisper (IRE) 250-1 (11-2) Mid-division, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 11, dist behind River Bray (11-2) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gd in Feb.
Glengar (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, awkward 3rd, headway on outside when hit 3 out, weakened and blundered next, 9th of 12, 34l behind Birds Of Prey (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Mar.
Not Going Out (IRE) 150-1 (11-0) Raced wide, headway on outside chasing leaders 4th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 8th of 10, dist behind Geordie B (11-6) at Exeter 2m 7f (4) sft in Mar.
Rowley Park (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Chased winner until 4 out, chased leaders, weakened quickly after next, 6th of 13, dist behind Elusive Belle (10-9) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gd in Jan.
Shillingsworth (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Chased leaders until badly hampered and unseated rider 2nd, at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Shutscombe Hill 100-1 (11-2) Never better than mid-division, weakened before 3 out, behind when blundered next, tailed off, 6th of 10, dist behind Greaneteen (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gs in Jan.
The Flying Sofa (FR) 125-1 (11-7) Always behind, struggling after 4 out, 13th of 16, dist behind Klassical Dream (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Jacamar (GER) 20-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway into mid-division over 3f out, driven and kept on same pace final 2f, never threatened leaders, 6th of 12, 19 3/4l behind Floating Rock (10-7) at Catterick 2m (5) gd in Feb.
Monda's Legacy 100-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, outpaced over 5f out, rallied over 3f out, never on terms, last of 14, dist behind Miss Honey Ryder (11-0) at Taunton 2m (5) gs in Jan.
Zambino (GER) 100-1 (11-0) Towards rear, struggling 4th, well beaten after next, 10th of 12, dist behind Tiffin Top (11-0) at Hereford 2m mdn (4) gd in Mar.