chased leaders, hit 2 out, soon every chance, beaten last, weakened flat
mid-division, headway on inside and pressing leaders when fell 3 out
held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway approaching 3 out, pressing front pair approaching last, ran on flat
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway 5th, not fluent 3 out, challenged after 2 out, ridden flat, ran on to lead near finish
held up in rear, hampered 3 out, never on terms
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, led soon after 2 out, ridden approaching last, headed near finish
took keen hold, in rear, mistake 1st, headway approaching 2nd, beaten last, weakened flat
behind after 3rd, no chance 3 out
held up in rear, hit 2 out, never dangerous
mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, hit 5th, headway on outside approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, hanging left approaching last
took keen hold, chased leader, jumped right 1st, led 3 out, hit 2 out, soon headed, weakened approaching last
raced keenly, led to 3 out, weakened after 2 out
Cockney Trucker looks a good hurdler in the making, and Gloucester has some useful form in the locker, but both may struggle to cope with ALFIE FLITS. Alan Swinbank's gelding should be much better for his recent debut and will have learnt plenty about hurdling that day. He goes well at anything from 10 to 14 furlongs on the flat, where he is rated 100, and this stiff track should suit, so we'll give him another chance. If he misfires then Cockney Trucker can take advantage. Philip Hobbs's six-year-old ran eighth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in the spring, after winning in that sphere at Sandown. He has always looked likely to achieve more with something to jump, so he is likely to show plenty more now and he can go well. Gloucester has a few miles on the clock without a win over hurdles, but he has some decent form in defeat and could again make the frame. Big Eared Fran has similar credentials to Cockney Trucker, except he has around 25 lengths to find with that rival from the spring, while Show Winner is worth a try over hurdles but would probably want some rain. A more serious danger looks to be Unfurled, who like the selection, has also won in Listed company on the flat. He has clearly had plenty of problems in the past three years but came out and ran well on his reappearance over hurdles last month. If this doesn't come too soon then he looks capable of getting involved but preference here is for Alfie Flits.
Alfie Flits 5-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead last, soon headed, one pace flat, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Drever Route (10-12) at Hexham 2m nov hdl (4) gs.
Big Eared Fran (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway over 5f out, weakened over 3f out, 16th of 23, 34l behind Cousin Vinny (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m nhf Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Cockney Trucker (IRE) 80-1 (11-5) Held up, pushed along and outpaced over 4f out, stayed on from over 1f out, never troubled leaders, 8th of 23, 13l behind Cousin Vinny (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m nhf Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Dee Ee Williams (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, steady headway and edged right over 2f out, hung right inside final furlong, never reached leaders, 3rd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Riverside Theatre (10-7) at Kempton 2m nhf (4) gd in Feb.
Edgbriar (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden when hampered 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 12, well behind Rodrigo Gonzales (11-10) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Gloucester 15-8fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, led 2 out, headed last, soon outpaced by winner, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Argento Luna (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) gs.
King's Forest (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Held up early, 7th after halfway, improved into 3rd 4f out, 2nd and ridden 3f out, no extra from 1 1/2f out, kept on, 2nd of 15, 0.0000 behind Pandorama (12-0) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f nhf gs in Mar.
Nomad (FR) 10-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden approaching 8th, weakened 2 out, 8th of 14, 28l behind Rudivale (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.
Sagredo (USA) (8-11) 6th of 10, 6l behind Cristobal (8-11) at Deauville 1m 4f (Flat).
Show Winner 5-1 (9-5) Took keen hold, chased leaders, led over 2f out, headed and no extra final furlong, 5th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Redesignation (9-4) at Sandown 1m 2f hcap (3) sft in Sept (Flat).
Sunsetten (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, shaken up and hung left over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Eight Palms (10-8) at Stratford 2m nhf (6) gd in Mar.
Unfurled (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Chased winner 2 out, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Maslak (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Sept.
Boogie Dancer 50-1 (10-12) Chased leader, jumped right 2nd, jumped right 5th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out, 10th of 14, well behind Cove Mountain (9-9) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl (4) gd in May.
