held up in last trio, dropped to rear after 6th, modest 5th before 2 out, never involved
held up in touch, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 1st, led 3 out until next, chased leader, ridden between last two, led again approaching last, soon ridden clear
led until after 3rd, chased leader, led again after next until 5th, chased leader until 3 out, soon ridden in 4th, went modest 3rd approaching 2 out where not fluent, mistake last
last pair, pushed along after 6th, behind approaching next, tailed off 3 out
took keen hold, held up in touch, injured and pulled up quickly before 3rd, dismounted
took keen hold, tracked leader, led after 3rd until after next, led again 5th, mistake and headed 3 out, chased leaders, ridden and no chance with leading duo when lost 3rd approaching next, plugged on
chased leaders, 2nd after 3 out, led next, headed approaching last, every chance when dived at last, ridden and weakened run-in
behind, headway approaching 7th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, weakened well before next, tailed off
ONE OF US makes more appeal than Sunnytahliateigan and Dalkadam of those with experience of hurdling. Nick William’s charge recovered from an early mistake at Stratford to finish third and will be suited by this longer trip. The remainder make their hurdling debuts including winning bumper Ridgeway Flyer, a half-brother to hurdles winner Dawson City, while Secret Investor and Reality Bites have joined powerful yards having won point-to-points in Ireland and Richard Johnson partners another points winner in Kimberlite Candy. Doolin and Our Merlin have placed in bumpers with the latter preferred on his third here last month.
Dalkadam (FR) 20-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, headway 10th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Fakenham 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Doolin 8-1 (11-0) Held up, in touch, headway well over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Coup De Pinceau (11-7) at Ascot 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Kimberlite Candy (IRE) 5-4 (10-7) Led 10; just held on, won at Woodford 2m 4f mdn gs in Apr beating Clo Sacre (10-7) by shd, 6 ran.
One Of Us 2-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, outpaced 3 out, stayed on after last, never able to challenge, 3rd of 4, 10 1/2l behind Artifice Sivola (10-12) at Stratford 2m (3) gd in Oct.
Our Merlin 10-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway over 5f out, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Machiato (11-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn (6) gf in Jul.
Reality Bites (IRE) 4-5 (12-1) Mostly chsd ldr, disp 1/2way, prog to 1l adv aft 2out, chall bef last where 2l adv, ko best, won at Belharbour 3m mdn sft in Feb beating Way Back Then (12-1) by 3l, 5 ran.
Ridgeway Flyer 15-8fav (11-0) Made all, ridden and edged left over 1f out, stayed on, won at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in Mar beating Bandsman (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 14 ran.
Secret Investor 5-1 (11-10) Chsd ldrs, 3rd gng well 6out, 3l 3rd frm 3out & clsr aftr 2out, lft 2nd last & ld early flat, so to go clr, won at Athlacca 3m mdn gd in May beating Slanelough (11-10) by 3l, 11 ran.
Sunnytahliateigan (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, jumped slowly 6th and 4 out, headway next, chased leaders 2 out, never a threat, 4th of 7, 18l behind Late Night Lily (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
