In touch, reminders after 4, weakened approaching 7th, tailed off and pulled up.
Held up towards rear and keen, headway approaching 7th, ridden and weakened after 3 out.
Led, stumbled and headed 2 out, soon weakened.
Held up towards rear, hit 6th, weakened 3 out.
Held up mid-division, mistake 3rd, weakened 4 out.
Tracked leaders, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next.
Chased leader, blundered 4 out, not fluent and left in lead 2 out, kept on under pressure.
Held up behind, headway 4 out, every chance last, not quicken.
Held up in rear, pushed along, weakened 7th.
Held up, weakened approaching 7th, tailed off 3 out.
ALKAR is taken to land the opener, although Sir Ian and Blazing Desert are expected to give our selection a race. Tony Martin is a shrewd trainer so if the market vibes are positive then that will fuel the confidence. The selection is making his seasonal return but he showed enough when last seen out at Southwell to make him the one to beat today. Sir Ian was a surprise winner over this course and distance when last seen out and he is sure to have his supporters today. It will be interesting to see if he can build on that win, but he does have more on his plate and we will take him on. Blazing Desert won a maiden hurdle in decent style at Fontwell last time and the handicapper looks to have given him a chance. The drop in trip should not be a problem and he can go well. Donald McCain's Foresight should be suited by this longer trip and he can go best of the others. However, Alkar makes most appeal and he gets the nod.
Blazing Desert 11-8fav (11-2) Prominent, joined leader 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out and kept on gamely flat, won at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar beating Criterion (10-7) by 1l, 7 ran.
Foresight 8-1 (10-4) Tracked winner to 2nd, remained prominent, regained 2nd 2 out, not fluent last, one pace flat, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Reindeer Dippin (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Sir Ian (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Made all, pushed along from 2 out, in command last, stayed on well, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr beating Naughty By Nature (11-4) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Semi Detached (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, hampered 6th, never dangerous, 7th of 16, 50l behind The Treacle Eater (11-0) at Hereford 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Eumene (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 11, 14l behind Kirby's Vic (11-2) at Southwell 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Aug.
Exclusionist 5-1 (11-6) Led, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Cobbler's Queen (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf, 10 ran.
Bret Maverick (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, chased leader, not fluent 4th, hard ridden and no impression when hit 2 out, lost 2nd approaching last, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Street Warrior (10-5) at Bangor 2m 1f nov sell hdl (5) gf in Apr.
Alkar (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway on inside approaching 5th, switched right after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 11, 28l behind Roznic (11-8) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Roscrea (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Behind, headway and in touch 8th, ridden and weakening when hit 2 out, 12th of 18, well behind And Whatever Else (11-4) at Perth 3m 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Cat Six (USA) 12-1 (11-2) Always in the rear, 10th of 18, well behind Beshairt (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 4f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Apr.
