in touch until weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, headway and hit 3 out, never dangerous after
held up, headway and hung left from 3 out, switched right before last and kept on flat
held up in mid-division, headway and not fluent 3 out, chased leading pair next, one pace approaching last
always behind
towards rear, stayed on under pressure approaching 2 out, no danger
mid-division weakened before 3 out
keen hold and held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders from 3 out, chased winner flat, no impression
chased leaders until weakened 3 out
held up in mid-division, good headway when slightly hampered 3 out, led 2 out, stayed on well flat
mid-division, mistake 3 out, stayed on one pace before next
close up, led 4 out, headed 2 out, chased winner after and no impression, weakened flat
led and soon clear, ridden 6th, headed 4 out, weakened quickly 2 out
always towards rear
in touch, lost place from 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway and every chance when mistake 3 out, weakened quickly before next
always behind
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Plenty of these have claims in a competitive handicap including Goblet of Fire, McBain and The Market Man but marginal preference is for Tomina, who is taken to make a winning return to hurdling. The selection comes here fit from the flat, remains feasibly well treated and hails from the Emma Lavelle yard that can do little wrong at present. The Venetia Williams-trained Flying Enterprise is less exposed than most of his rivals and should appreciate every drop of rain that falls, although lack of a recent run is of concern. Shalako, from the yard of Philip Hobbs, comes here on the back of a promising reappearance run behind Mouseski at Chepstow and is entitled to respect on that evidence, while Mirjan ran with great credit in the Cesarewitch recently but is probably a shade high in the weights at present. Bagan, who had a promising first season over hurdles and Jonjo O'Neill's Fire Dragon who is probably better than he showed last time are others worth of a mention although a bigger threat is likely to come from Goblet of Fire. The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding disappointed at Market Rasen last time but has solid claims on earlier form at Newton Abbot. Uttoxeter winner McBain and Nicky Henderson's lightly raced The Market Man are others with solid claims but the vote goes to Tomina for the in-form Emma Lavelle.
Mirjan (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Towards rear, never dangerous, last of 10, 15l behind Jack Dawson (11-1) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gf in May '04.
Goblet of Fire (USA) 9-2jt-fav (11-3) Prominent until 3 out, 11th of 17, 41l behind Rooftop Protest (9-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (B) gd in Sept.
McBain (USA) 5-1 (11-7) Held up, ridden and hung left approaching 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, led last, ran on, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gd beating Itsmyboy (11-9) by 2l, 8 ran.
Flying Enterprise (IRE) 10-11fav (11-7) Prominent, led approaching 5th, pushed clear after 3 out, eased flat, won at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gd in Apr beating Thomo (11-0) by 6l, 12 ran.
The Market Man (NZ) 4-9fav (11-5) Chased leader, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, clear flat, eased towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (E) gd in Jan beating Say What You See (11-12) by 15l, 11 ran.
Shalako (USA) 8-1 (11-11) Held up in touch, headway after 7th, ridden and ran on well to chase leader last, always held, 2nd of 18, 2 1/2l behind Mouseski (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd.
Bagan (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Towards rear, progress into 5th approaching 2 out, moderate 4th before last, soon no extra, 5th of 11, 12l behind Asian Maze (11-7) at Punchestown 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 1 sft in Apr.
Tomina 15-2 (11-12) Held up, headway 6th, went 2nd approaching 8th, ridden to lead approaching last, ran on, won at Southwell 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Apr beating Harrycone Lewis (10-13) by 5l, 13 ran.
