tracked leading pair, not fluent 4 out, lost place approaching next, kept on same pace, weakened before last
made all, driven after 3 out, ridden between last 2, stayed on well to clear from last
jumped slowly 1st, in rear, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden and beaten, pulled up before last
held up in 4th, headway on outside after 3 out, effort and every chance next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression from last
jumped slowly 1st, held up in 5th, went 3rd approaching 3 out, driven and outpaced next, no impression between last 2
tracked winner, hit 5th, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, lost 2nd when hit next, weakened last
LUGGERS HALL was beaten narrowly by subsequent winner Sam Bass at Galway in August and has done enough in two starts for Tony Carroll to suggest he can gain his first success. Royal Opera was in winning form on the Flat before a very good opening effort over timber at Aintree when Unex Picasso was a long way back in third and will have come on for that experience. Cuban Piece showed little on the Flat and made mistakes on his hurdling debut at Fontwell and the remaining pair are making their debuts over timber.
Born To Shine (USA) 9-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, chased leaders, under pressure over 3f out, soon no impression, 4th of 6, 12l behind Set Me Free (9-2) at Redcar 1m mdn auc stks (6) gf in Jun (flat).
Cuban Piece (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th, ridden 3 out, 4 lengths down when mistake last, rallied briefly after last, weakened flat, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Hi Note (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Greek Islands (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Close up, ridden over 2f out, kept on towards finish, 4th of 12, 6l behind George Guru (9-0) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct (flat).
Luggers Hall (IRE) 2-1 (10-9) In touch in mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, not fluent and headed last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Royal Bonsai (10-9) at Haydock 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Royal Opera 11-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, challenging when bumped 3 out, soon led, mistake 2 out, headed last, kept on, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Bradbury (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Unex Picasso 7-2 (11-0) Held up in 5th, not fluent 2nd, pecked slightly 4th, headway after 6th, led approaching 3 out, soon wandered, headed just after hurdle, weakened flat, 3rd of 7, 17l behind Bradbury (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gd in Oct.
