Pearly Star chased leaders, slight lead 4 out, 2 lengths up and staying on well when left clear 2 out, comfortably

Nemetan in touch, headway approaching 4 out, stayed on under pressure to chase winner last but never any chance

Underwriter chased leaders, challenged 4 out, ridden next, stayed on same pace from 2 out

Mister Wiseman in touch, headway to chase leaders 7th, staying on one pace when hampered 2 out, kept on again run-in but never any chance of reaching winner

Goodnight Tom chased leaders, ridden and effort approaching 4 out, one pace next, kept on again from last

Wild Tonto took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out

Risk Challenge in rear, headway after 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out

Killing Me Softly in rear, driven along 7th, ridden 4 out, stayed on from 2 out but never in contention

Lord Lieutenant led 2nd, hit next, ridden and narrowly headed 4 out, weakening when hampered 2 out

Colditz took keen hold early, chased leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened from next

Gallant Hero led to 2nd, stayed pressing leaders and challenged 5th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened soon after

Ask The Umpire always in rear

Great Tsar always towards rear

Brilliant chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out

Twice Charmed ridden 6th, always in rear, tailed off

Thenford Snipe always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out

Lenny The Blade in touch, headway approaching 4 out, chased winner 3 out, staying on and 2 lengths 2nd when fell next

A moderate but competitive handicap hurdle in which there were any number in with a shout on the turn into the straight.

PEARLY STAR showed ahead four from home and soon had most of his rivals on the stretch. His one serious pursuer departed at the second-last and he kept up the gallop for a clear-cut win. He had been last of four at Plumpton earlier in the week and his trainer believed that the better ground, rather than the return of blinkers, had sparked this improved performance.

Nemetan had not run over hurdles for more than 18 months but was able to race off a mark no less than 26lb lower than his current chase rating, following a win over fences at Kempton on his latest start. He made up a good deal of ground to go after the winner at the final flight and is certainly capable of exploiting his hurdles mark.

Underwriter ran a big race off topweight, showing prominently throughout and keeping on for third. Formerly with Ferdy Murphy, he was racing from 15lb lower than his chase mark on this debut for the yard and first appearance since November.

Goodnight Tom, running for only the second time since winning a maiden hurdle at Worcester for another yard in July 2006, shaped as if he could land a little race on decent ground in the coming weeks.

The quirky Wild Tonto, who was 7lb higher than when scoring at Taunton, stayed on again after losing his pitch on the run round to the straight.

Risk Challenge ran a better race for hold-up tactics, settling better than normal.

Newton Abbot winner Lenny The Blade had moved into second place, and was set to give the winner plenty to think about, when he took a heavy fall two from home.

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