tracked leaders in 4th, led after 2 out, stayed on well from last
led and clear until 5th, headed after 2 out, in 2nd and held when mistake last, one pace
held up in rear and keen, headway 4 out, weakened next
held up mid-division and keen, weakened 3 out
towards rear, reminders and weakened after 5th
held up towards rear on outer, headway 3 out, in 3rd and held when quickly pulled up before last
tracked leader, outpaced approaching 2 out, left 3rd going to last, no impression
held up mid-division, headway approaching 5th, blundered 3 out when weakening
tracked leaders, {} reminders approaching 5th, soon weakened
held up towards rear, behind from 4th, weakened next
mid-division, hit 1st, hit 5th, soon weakened
held up mid-division, not fluent 3rd, weakened approaching 4 out
held up towards rear, weakened after 5th
held up in touch on outer, ridden to chase leaders approaching 2 out, left 4th approaching last, no impression
Unless one of the two newcomers to hurdling, Sea Land and Willie Ever, proves to be out of the ordinary first time out over hurdles and neither has been in good form on the level of late it is hard to get away from TRI NATIONS. Charlie Mann's gelding has the highest BHA rating of the 15 runners by some margin and has been running consistently well in novice hurdles in recent starts so he should be more than capable of giving weight away all round dropped into a seller for the first time. Ann Duffield's Dr Valentine also has a penalty to carry following his win in a selling hurdle at Sedgefield but this is tougher for him with the penalty that he has to carry after that success. Chris Bealby's Louis Ludwig is capable but has a lot to do on official ratings, while John O'Shea's Summerofsixtynine has seemingly lost his way on the flat and is hard to back with any confidence on his hurdling debut. Reg Hollinshead's Stravita gave little sign for encouragement on her first start over timber and a safer option looks to be Tri Nations, who can resume winning ways.
Tri Nations (UAE) 3-1 (11-1) Took keen hold early, tracked leaders, chased winner, well before 4 out, until no extra before last, weakened flat, lost 3rd near finish, 4th of 9, 14l behind Princess Rainbow (10-6) at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Dr Valentine (FR) 7-4fav (10-7) Made all, wandered approaching 3rd, drew clear from 2 out, well in command when jinked right approaching last, ridden out, easily, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f sell hdl (5) hvy in Mar beating Ajman (11-0) by 26l, 6 ran.
Alwaysablue 14-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, led until approaching 5th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Carrig An Uisce (11-12) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-85 (5) sft in Mar, 8 ran.
Bernshaw 16-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, eased from next, pulled up before last, in a race won by Lady Wright (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Apr '09, 17 ran.
Bobering 66-1 (10-1) Always towards rear, tailed off when Pulled Up, in a race won by Virtus (10-6) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (5) gd in Aug '05, 14 ran.
Den Maschine 4-1 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden over 4f out, soon beaten, 5th of 7, 20l behind Saveiro (11-11) at Musselburgh 2m N H flat (6) gs in Feb '09.
Louis Ludwig (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 4th, ridden and headed 3 out, 3rd and beaten when blundered next, 3rd of 7, 38l behind Kanad (10-9) at Fakenham 2m 4f sell hdl (5) gd.
Pembo 100-1 (10-13) Keen, in touch, losing place when mistake 4th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Princess Rainbow (10-6) at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd, 9 ran.
Rockman 200-1 (10-7) Always behind, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Walamo (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Sea Land (FR) 5-2fav (8-8) Chased leaders, challenged and every chance over 2f out, soon ridden, one pace final furlong, 7th of 9, 6l behind Zaplamation (9-4) at Musselburgh 1m app hcp 0-60 (6) gs (flat).
Summerofsixtynine 20-1 (10-2) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 7f out, weakened over 3f out, 6th of 15, 22l behind Regal Angel (10-5) at Hereford 1m 5f NH flat (6) gd in Jun '07.
Willie Ever 66-1 (9-0) Virtually refused to race, tailed off, always behind, last of 10, well behind Well Of Echoes (8-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f sell stks (6) pol in Feb (flat).
Court Empress 40-1 (10-7) In touch, dropped rear 4th, tailed off when Unseated Rider, in a race won by Bally Bolshoi (11-3) at Chepstow 2m mrs hcp hdl (5) sft in Jan '06, 14 ran.
Stravita 7-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, not fluent and hampered 2nd, headway 6th, beaten approaching 3 out, mistake last, 4th of 11, 23l behind Bundle Up (10-9) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Bet Noir (IRE) 5-2 (10-8) Held up, mistake 1st, raced keen, chased leaders, 3 out, weakened approaching next, 6th of 9, 14l behind Sacrilege (11-12) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Nov.
