mid-division, weakened 3 out
led, headed approaching 2 out, rallied last, stayed on well closing stages
held up in rear, headway approaching last, never on terms
held up towards rear, hard driven and headway after 4 out, chased leaders approaching last, soon weakened
mid-division, headway after 3 out, never on terms
pulled hard, held up towards rear, headway 3 out, soon no impression
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on same pace
always behind
held up in touch, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, lost place after 3 out
pulled hard, soon prominent, led approaching 2 out, soon strongly challenged, headed last, stayed on under pressure
held up in touch, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, led soon after last, ran on well
tracked leaders, every chance 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, mistake 3rd, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, headway to chase leader 2 out, every chance last, no extra close home
Prospect Wells has impressed in novice company this season and doesn't look overburdened in his first handicap. He should go close if overcoming his lack of experience but is very short in the betting for what he's achieved and we prefer GIBB RIVER. He was just behind Via Galilei in a Listed handicap at Sandown earlier this month but that was his first appearance since finishing down the field in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and today's good to soft ground is ideal. Four-year-olds have a very poor record in this race so we're giving Brampour, Sailors Warn and Abergavenny a wide berth but progressive Haydock winner Desert Cry could be interesting and there's a chance that the handicapper has underestimated Act Of Kalanisi, who didn't run badly in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton and hails from a yard in decent form. Alarazi beat Via Galilei in a valuable handicap in the spring but his recent Newbury fifth suggests he's in the assessor's grip now.
Brampour (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Held up in 5th, mistake 3rd, chased leading trio after 2 out, switched inside and every chance last, soon ridden, kept on same pace under pressure flat, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Grandouet (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl G2 (1) gd.
Marsh Warbler 9-1 (11-6) Led narrowly, headed 3 out, 3rd and ridden after next, stayed on to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Grandouet (11-6) at Haydock 2m 4yo hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Via Galilei (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up behind, steady headway before 2 out, driven to chase leading pair between last 2, challenged last, ridden and every chance flat, just held, 2nd of 12, nk behind Ubi Ace (11-5) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gs.
Sailors Warn (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Settled in 5th, left 4th at 4th, ridden on inner to lead after 2 out, headed early run-in and no chance with easy winner, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Unaccompanied (11-0) at Naas 2m 4yo lst hdl (1) in Nov.
Gibb River (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Mid-division in touch, headway after 3 out, switched left and effort to challenge when hit next, every chance last, ridden and kept on flat, held near finish, 3rd of 12, 1/2l behind Ubi Ace (11-5) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gs.
Desert Cry (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway approaching 3 out, led next, driven flat, all out, won at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Nov beating Little Hercules (10-10) by nk, 12 ran.
Prospect Wells (FR) 1-2fav (11-5) Held up, headway 3rd, challenged going well approaching 2 out, led last, shaken up and idled flat, ridden to assert towards finish, comfortably, won at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs in Nov beating All The Aces (11-0) by 4l, 9 ran.
Viva Colonia (IRE) 40-1 (10-13) Held up behind, headway on inside between last 2, chased leaders last, kept on same pace flat, no impression, 5th of 23, 7l behind Brampour (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Rajdhani Express 14-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, effort approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, ridden and weakened last, 5th of 12, 18l behind Ubi Ace (11-5) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gs.
Tonic Mellysse (FR) 8-13fav (10-12) Tracked winner until blundered and fell 6th, in a race won by Tatispout (10-10) at Warwick 2m 4yo chs (3) gd in Nov, 3 ran.
Alarazi (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, effort approaching 3 out, never on terms, weakened 2 out, 5th of 11, 31l behind Rock On Ruby (11-10) at Newbury 2m Listed hcap hdle (1) gs in Nov.
Abergavenny 28-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, driven and headway 2 out, ridden and every chance last, soon chased winner, kept on under pressure flat, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 23, 3l behind Brampour (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Raya Star (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway 5th, went 3rd approaching 2 out, no impression on leaders last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Rock On Ruby (11-10) at Newbury 2m Listed hcap hdle (1) gs in Nov.
Act Of Kalanisi (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Tracked winner to 2nd, tracked leading pair, outpaced after 3 out, left 2nd 2 out, soon ridden, no chance with winner when lost 2nd last, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Celestial Halo (11-10) at Wincanton 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Ciceron (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, effort before 2 out, never dangerous, last of 9, 45l behind Featherbed Lane (10-11) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Rigidity 28-1 (10-12) Held up in 4th, chased leading pair briefly when pecked 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression from next, 4th of 5, 16l behind Grandouet (11-6) at Haydock 2m 4yo hdl (2) gs in Nov.
First Avenue 16-1 (10-10) Held up behind, headway after 3 out, soon outpaced, well beaten when hampered last, 6th of 12, 23l behind Ubi Ace (11-5) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gs.
