in touch, led on bit last, soon clear, eased close home
chased leaders, reminders 3rd, tailed off and pulled up 3 out
led, headed 3out, weakened flat
prominent, led 2out, headed last, no chance with winner
held up, some late headway but never dangerous
not fluent, always behind, pulled up
mistakes, behind, stayed on from last, never, nearer
prominent, mistake 3rd, weakened 3 out, fell 2 out
COUNTRYWIDE FLAME clearly isn't lacking in stamina as he stayed on too strongly for his eight rivals, including Blake Dean and Go, on his hurdling debut at Market Rasen despite pulling hard in the early stages. He can follow up here as Sedgefield winner Market Maker appears held on a line through fifth Arizona High, while Short Takes didn't beat much at Newton Abbot last month and was easily brushed aside in an equally modest heat at Bangor subsequently. Urban Kode has won a couple of sellers on the Flat but was more than 20 lengths behind the selection at Hamilton in June and makes his hurdles bow for a new yard today.
Countrywide Flame 11-4fav (10-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, jumped left 1st, mistakes 2nd and 3rd, challenged approaching 2 out, led last, ran on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo hdl (3) gs in Jul beating Arctic Reach (11-4) by 5l, 9 ran.
Market Maker (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, hampered 1st, jumped slowly 4th, not fluent 3 out, every chance last, no extra close home, 4th of 12, 1 3/4l behind Red Mercury (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Short Takes (USA) 7-2 (11-5) With winner, effort and every chance when pecked 3 out, ridden and outpaced approaching next, weakened before last, lost moderate 4th flat, 5th of 9, 22l behind Xenophon (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Blake Dean 9-1 (10-12) Held up, jumped slowly 2nd, awkward 4th, stayed on approaching last, went 4th flat, never on terms, 4th of 9, 20l behind Countrywide Flame (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo hdl (3) gs in Jul.
Blue Ronnie (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Held up mid-division, driven and headway halfway, weakened over 2f out, last of 16, well behind Glencadam Gold (9-3) at Redcar 1m 2yo mdn aut (6) gd in Oct (flat).
Charles De Mille 16-1 (9-3) Reluctant to load and edgy in stalls, held up in rear, struggling 3f out, tailed off, 5th of 7, 19l behind Izzy The Ozzy (8-12) at Ripon 1m 3yo mdn (5) gd in May (flat).
Go 66-1 (10-5) Held up in last, moved into 5th before 3 out, never on terms, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 9, well behind Countrywide Flame (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo hdl (3) gs in Jul.
Hartforth 7-1 (9-5) Led, jinked badly left on stable bend over 9f out, headed 7f out, weakened 3f out, last of 6, 29l behind Mina's Boy (8-12) at Beverley 2m 3yo mdn hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Jul (flat).
Subramaniam 12-1 (8-6) Towards rear, outpaced over 2f out, never dangerous, 10th of 15, 8l behind Goal (9-2) at Thirsk 1m 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Jul (flat).
Urban Kode (IRE) 2-1fav (8-7) Tracked leader, every chance from over 2f out, soon hard driven, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Abidhabidubai (9-0) at Redcar 1m 3yo clm (6) gd (flat).
