made all, set steady pace, quickened pace 4 out, ridden 2 out, jumped left last, challenged on all sides flat, driven and ran on gamely
held up in rear, headway from 3 out, ridden next, stayed on strongly towards finish
in rear, jumped slow early, ridden 4 out, weakened next
held up mid-division, headway after 4 out, soon ridden, kept on one pace from 2 out
pulled hard, in touch, ridden 2 out, every chance to press winner flat, unable to quicken towards finish
tracked winner, ridden 2 out, driven approaching last, weakened and no extra flat
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway 3 out, ridden and hung left approaching last, driven and stayed on towards finish
mid-division, ridden and mistake 3 out, not trouble leaders
mid-division, ridden and weakened 3 out
always in rear, ridden 3 out, no impression
RED HARBOUR can get punters off to a good start at the main expense of Volador and Ballybach. Paul Nicholls is firing in plenty of winners at present and Red Harbour can keep the momentum going. He was a winner in the Irish point-point sphere and he ran well for a long way in the Champion bumper at the Cheltenham Festival back in March. The ground was against him last time and he can regain the winning thread today. Volador has been off the track since March but he won a bumper that day and it will be interesting to see how he gets on today on his debut over hurdles. Ballybach finished third behind Rathrockscourt on his hurdles debut which was a little disappointing as he had looked a smart prospect previously in bumpers. Nicky Henderson won this race last year and he sends two to post here. Proud Presence is making his debut over hurdles and he should strip fitter for the run on his first outing since April, while Wembley Way looks to be the stable second-string. Voramar Two is another who has an absence to overcome, but he does have the talented Giles Hawkins taking 7lbs off his back. Red Harbour makes most appeal here and he gets the vote.
Ashfield's Dream (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, closer in 3rd 5f out, lost place and no extra from before straight, 12th of 21, 31l behind Brog An Ri (11-11) at Punchestown 2m 1f 5yo nhf sft in May.
Ballybach (IRE) 15-8fav (10-12) Not always fluent, held up, headway 3 out, no impression when went modest 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Rathrockscourt (11-5) at Stratford 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gd in Oct.
Miller's Dawn 16-1 (10-12) Mistake 1st, always behind, not jumped well throughout, 8th of 12, 27l behind Pepe Simo (11-4) at Wincanton 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gs.
Priors Glen (IRE) 15-8fav (10-13) Held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, soon one pace and never reached leaders, 5th of 13, 10l behind Recif De Thaix (10-7) at Sandown 2m NH flat (5) gs in Feb.
Proud Presence (IRE) 4-1fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader over 2f out, no extra final furlong, 5th of 15, 2 1/4l behind Henry Hook (11-4) at Kempton 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Red Harbour (IRE) 9-4fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, went 3rd approaching 3 out, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Moleskin (10-12) at Exeter 2m 5f nov hdl (3) hvy.
Sean Thornton (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Made most until 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 13, well behind Megastar (11-0) at Sandown 2m NH flat (5) gd.
Volador (IRE) 5-6fav (11-3) Behind, headway over 5f out, chased leaders over 3f out, hard ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar beating Timeshift (11-3) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Voramar Two 12-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 3f out, chased winner 2f out, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Wymott (11-3) at Bangor 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Weapon Of War (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Prominent, pushed along over 5f out, outpaced 3f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 16, 12l behind No Principles (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn NH flat (6) sft in May.
Wembley Way 9-2 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 8f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 10, 9l behind Prescelli (10-4) at Ludlow 2m NH flat (5) gd in May.
