in touch, close on leaders approaching 3 out, quickened up to laad approaching last, ran on
tracked leader from 2nd, jumped right 3 out, ridden and every chance approaching last, soon weakened
held up, not fluent 3rd, ridden and close up when lost action approaching last and pulled up
tracked leader to 2nd, ridden 3 out, not clear run and switched left approaching last, mistake and one pace
led and set steady pace, ridden 3 out mistake and headed 2 out
held up and keen, headway 3 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden last and chasing winner and not fluent again and one pace
held up, shaken up approaching 3 out, not fluent and soon held
held up and keen, driven 5th, behind from next
The presence of THUMBS UP in this race makes finding a winner a little easier here than in our first couple of race as Don McCain's gelding should take all the beating with Shiwawa and Coin of The Realm looking likely to have to settle for minor honours. The selection has looked promising in three starts over obstacles and already has a more than useful rating of 130. His last run in a similar race saw him comfortably land the odds while his solid run behind the top-class Walkon here during the Grand National meeting rates as very strong form in the context of this race. It's hard to fault the bumper form of Shiwawa but his first try over timber in a similar race last time was a little disappointing and while he should come on from that the form lines out of the contest suggest he we'll need a vast improvement. Coin of The Realm was useful enough on the level rated in the mid eighties but again his hurdles debut was only solid at best and with the others not given much chance to score here we have to side with Thumbs Up.
Thumbs Up 7-4fav (10-8) Chased leaders, smooth headway 3 out, led after next, ran on well, won at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd beating Sambulando (10-12) by 4l, 10 ran.
Cabbyl Doo 40-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway after 7f, weakened 3f out, 10th of 14, 16l behind Fresh Air And Fun (10-13) at Worcester 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in May '07.
Rain Stops Play (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Mid-division, headway on wide outside over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 5th of 12, 8l behind Agilete (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (7) pol in Jan (flat).
Shiwawa 15-2 (10-12) Mid-division,chased leaders 5th, weakened when hit 3 out, 9th of 17, 28l behind Quwetwo (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Snark (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, weakened 5th, tailed off from next, 7th of 10, well behind Thumbs Up (10-8) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Coin of The Realm (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Keen, bumped 1st, ridden from 4th, never dangerous, 7th of 14, 28l behind Stage Acclaim (10-4) at Lingfield 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Thoroughly Red (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Prominent, mistakes throughout, led briefly approaching 2 out, blundered last, weakened, 3rd of 10, 18l behind Always Cruising (10-4) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Miss Toozy Betsy (IRE) 11-1 (10-4) Behind, ridden over 3f out, soon outpaced, 6th of 9, 20l behind Bygones Of Brid (11-4) at Ayr 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Dec.
Sheer Magnetism (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 5th, weakened 3 out, soon tailed off, 16th of 18, well behind Show Winner (10-7) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
