held up in touch, outpaced before 4 out, lost touch when ridden after next, well behind in 5th before last, rallied flat, stayed on strongly to take 3rd final strides, no chance with front pair
held up in last pair, struggling 10th, lost touch when pulled up before 4 out
pressed leader, led narrowly 3rd, driven and headed after after 3 out, one pace in 3rd next, no chance with front pair after last, lost 2 places near finish
held up in last pair, chased leaders after 4 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace, no impression
led to 3rd, with leader when lost action and pulled up after 7th
tracked leaders, left 3rd after 7th, led after 3 out, clear when pecked next, ridden between last 2, in command when hung badly right after last, driven out
hit 1st, close up on outside, left 2nd after 7th, upsides 10th, ridden and outpaced by front pair after 3 out, regained 2nd next, kept on, no chance with winner
BARTERS HILL suffered his first defeat in eight career starts when only fourth in the Albert Bartlett here in March but he's an exciting prospect for chasing and may have too much class for these as he receives weight fom all bar two of his rivals. Rock The Kasbah jumped well when making a winning start over fences at Chepstow, where Flying Angel was beaten when falling, but third Theinval is 8lb better off and should get much closer. The latter's trainer, Nicky Henderson, also runs O O Seven. who is another interesting recruit. He has finished second twice in Grade 1 hurdles and will have had plenty of schooling, though was behind recent easy Fakenham winner Its'afreebee in the Neptune Investment at The Festival. Sizing Tennessee is being thrown in at the deep end.
Rock The Kasbah (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, upsides 11th, led 3 out, soon hard pressed, ridden and ran on well flat, won at Chepstow 2m 3f (2) gd in Oct beating Our Kaempfer (11-0) by 2l, 6 ran.
Flying Angel (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, lost place next, no impression when fell 2 out, at Chepstow 2m 3f (2) gd in Oct.
Its'afreebee (IRE) 3-10fav (11-3) Made all, ridden clear approaching last, idled flat, won at Fakenham 2m 5f (3) gd in Oct beating Rolling Maul (11-8) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Theinval (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Held up, in touch, tracked leaders 5 out, challenged 3 out, ridden after next, every chance last, no extra flat, just held on for 3rd, 3rd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Rock The Kasbah (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f (2) gd in Oct.
Barters Hill (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 4th, edged right before last, then edged left, jumped left and headed at hurdle, soon hung left, hampered and stumbled, no extra final 75 yards, 4th of 19, 4 1/2l behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gd in Mar.
O O Seven (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Mid-division on inner, 5th halfway, pushed along in 3rd approaching straight, no impression on winner before last, kept on one pace into 2nd on run-in, 2nd of 9, 10l behind Jer's Girl (10-6) at Punchestown 2m 4f Yielding in Apr.
Sizing Tennessee (IRE) 66-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, lost place after 2 out (usual 3 out), soon behind, 20th of 26, 32 1/2l behind Superb Story (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
