With the visor back on and returning to fences, Friary Rock won a shade comfortably under a fine ride from Champion jockey Brian Hughes.
FRIARY ROCK, a winner over fences in Ireland last summer, had run his best race for Laura Morgan over hurdles at Southwell last month (with the visor back on). He built upon that improved effort back over fences with a convincing win, and should continue to fare well from what is a workable handicap mark.
The Vollan continues to defy the handicapper, under another fine ride from Adam Wedge. He cruised into the lead in the home straight and won a shade comfortably.
THE VOLLAN really put his stamp on the race in the straight, making it three wins in his last four and defying a 9lb rise in the process. This ground suits him ideally but he'll need to continue to progress to defy a mark likely to be in the 120s.
Given a very mature and sensible ride by young conditional Lewis Dobb, Illusion of Time made an impressive winning debut in the Bumper at Stratford, beating a previous winner in the process.
Given a very mature and sensible ride by young conditional Lewis Dobb, Illusion of Time made an impressive winning debut in the Bumper at Stratford, beating a previous winner in the process.
Patiently ridden by Adam Wedge, The Vollan continued his good run of form by cruising into the lead round the home turn and winning comfortably.
THE VOLLAN got badly hampered when a clear second off this mark at Hexham eight days earlier but avoided trouble on this occasion to repeat his C&D win from earlier in the month with ease. He's been competitive off higher marks over hurdles so remains with some scope over fences, with his stable in cracking form.
Making all the running under Adam Wedge, Tardree won his first race over Hurdles as an Odds On shot should, very comfortably.
TARDREE, not beaten far into second on his last two starts, was handed a simple task when the overnight odds-on market leader was taken out during the morning, and the 8yo got it done in the style the market suggested he would, securing a first win as a hurdler.
Reverting to Hurdles, Licklighter who is a useful Chaser, made all the running under Adam Wedge to win very comfortably.
LICKLIGHTER had a sound chance on his chase form, but his latest hurdles effort was disappointing. He was back to form here, and having dictated the gallop in modestly-run affair won without being asked a serious question. In this sort of form he can follow up with a penalty.
The Vollan travelled well under Adam Wedge to record his first win over bigger obstacles at the sixth time of asking.
THE VOLLAN, a three-time hurdle winner who had yet to win over fences in five previous attempts, was always travelling well within himself, with the visor refitted, and won despite a scare at the second-last. He'll remain well treated once reassessed
FIRE AWAY, back over fences and with a visor refitted, replacing cheekpieces, was hampered by the faller at the last but that left him with only one serious rival, and he was game under pressure to just get there, backing up his win in this 12 months earlier off the same mark. His form figures under Adam Wedge now read 1211P11.
Given a fine , positive, front running ride from Adam Wedge, Clear The Runway won the 6th of his last 8 races. This time over fences off a career high handicap mark .
CLEAR THE RUNWAY, the winner of novice hurdles on his last two starts, had previously been progressive over fences. Reverting to chasing off a career-high mark, he travelled like the best horse, but he started to waver on the run-in and had little, if anything, in hand at the line. He has won six of his last eight races, which reflects tremendous credit on his trainer.
Clear The Runway , at odds of 2/13 made light work of winning his second race of the season, again over hurdles. A fine, controlled front running ride from Adam Wedge.
CLEAR THE RUNWAY had much the best form on offer and easily added to his recent Southwell win, making all and readily drawing clear approaching the second-last. This told us little new but he'll likely continue to go well.
