keen tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, no impression on leaders
took keen hold, close up, chased leader 4 out until ridden 2 out, kept on one pace
awkward first, in rear, ridden 4 out, some headway next, not trouble leaders
keen, held up, weakened 3 out
pulled hard held up, headway to 3rd 4 out, led 2 out, soon clear, comfortable
keen tracked leader, led and hit 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on one pace
took keen hold, set steady pace, headed 5th, weakened next
MEGASTAR makes his eagerly awaited debut over hurdles and can make a winning one. Fifth in the Cheltenham bumper, he then beat Dare Me at Aintree and that form has been franked by the winner going on to very promising things over timber. Described by his trainer as 'an awesome sort of horse' and one who used to work with Mourilyan at home, he's the one to beat. Smokey Oakey was classy on the flat and he shaped with promise at Kempton, however a bigger threat might be Ebony Diamond who looks like an interesting Irish recruit for Charlie Mann. Highly Regal and Marvo were both rated in the 80's on the flat, and the latter would be more interesting given his preference for soft ground. The other to mention strongly is Koup De Kanon who was well-fancied when narrowly going down in a Uttoxeter bumper and his stable is red-hot at present.
By Command 50-1 (8-8) Held up in rear and keen, never dangerous, 10th of 12, 34l behind Ocean Transit (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) hvy (flat).
Ebony Diamond (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear and keen, smooth headway to track leaders over 5f out, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened and edged left inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 15l behind Mawsem (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) gd in Oct.
Highly Regal (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Mistake 1st, held up in 5th, weakening when mistake 4 out, tailed off, 4th of 5, 41l behind Ray Diamond (10-7) at Plumpton 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov '08.
Koup De Kanon (FR) 7-2fav (11-4) Held up in rear, headway over 4f out, led over 2f out, headed and carried left close home, 2nd of 15, nk behind Rose Of The Moon (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Oct.
Marvo 8-1 (9-1) Held up, weakened over 2f out, eased 1f out, last of 15, well behind Sarrsar (9-10) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcap (2) sft in Oct (flat).
Megastar 9-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, raced keenly, led 2f out, hung right inside final furlong, driven out, won at Aintree 2m 1f nat hunt flat Grade 2 (1) gd in Apr beating Dare Me (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 20 ran.
Smokey Oakey (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, ridden approaching next, kept on same pace, no impression last, 6th of 13, 11l behind Iolith (10-12) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Karingabay Queen (10-5) in a race won by Sister Palma (10-5) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 2f hdl hvy, 11 ran.
