CHEPSTOW, 15 February 2007, Heavy

2:10 Weatherbys Bank "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle (Div II) (Class 5) (4yo+) 8 hdles (2m110y) 2m½f

[off 2:11] £1,951.80, £573.00, £286.50, £143.10

1 Back Among Friends J A B Old 8 11-2 Jason Maguire 11/1 97 — —

2 12 Boomshakalaka (IRE) N J Henderson 7 11-2 Mick Fitzgerald 8/13F — —

3 17 Archway Copse Ian Williams 7 10-4 Willie McCarthy(5) 20/1 — —

4 2 Havenstone (IRE) Evan Williams 6 11-2 Paul Moloney 16/1 — —

5 4 Elsie´s Pride (IRE) Miss Venetia Williams 5 11-2 Sam Thomas 12/1 — —

6 24 Fleur Babe P Bowen 4 10-0 T J O´Brien 100/1 — —

7 5 Auchterarder D E Pipe 5 11-2 A P McCoy 22/1 — —

8 13 Saxon Leader (IRE) D O Stephens 5 10-9 Darren O´Dwyer(7) 100/1 — —

9 4 Foolish Myth D P Keane 5 11-2 Neil Mulholland 20/1 — —

10 57 Putitawayforayear (IRE) D E Pipe 5 11-2 Timmy Murphy 12/1 — —

PU Super Fly Mrs D A Hamer 5 11-2 Jamie Moore 40/1 — —

F Stormy Bay (IRE) D R C Elsworth 6 11-2 Antony Procter 9/1 — —

12 ran TIME 4m 19.58s (slow by 31.58s) TOTAL SP 119%

NON RUNNER: Running Hotter

1st OWNER: Mrs J Fowler BRED: R And Mrs S Edwards TRAINER: J A B Old

2nd OWNER: The Cigar Bar Partnership

3rd OWNER: The Duck Racing Partnership

TOTE WIN £11.90 PL £3.40, £1.10, £4.10; Ex £28.50; CSF £18.05

This second division of the maiden hurdle was won in a time faster than the first but that was down to more early pace than anything else and the form does not look that strong. BACK AMONG FRIENDS has not been the easiest to train since winning a bumper back in 2004 but he managed to get his head in front form the first time over hurdles here. Things panned out for this free-running type on this occasion but a mark of just 97 sums him up and the opposition up and he will find it more difficult with a penalty.

Boomshakalaka, another bumper winner, could never really get to grips with the winner from the home turn and he gave the impression he would be better suited by faster ground.