soon with leader, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up rear, soon ridden along, 15 lengths adrift when jumped left and hampered 3 out, headway when jumped left 2 out, led last, just held on
prominent, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, soon ridden along, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and every chance last, one pace flat
in touch, in when mistake and unseated rider 3 out
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
pulled hard in rear, headway 3rd, ridden 2 out, soon weakened
behind, mistake 4th, headway 2 out, hard ridden and weakened approaching last
led to 3 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before 2 out
behind, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
held up, headway 4th, led on bit 3 out, headed last, rallied close home
Irish point winner The Luder is bound to be popular with backers in a moderate contest but may need further to be seen at his best and preference is for Barathea Blue, who is taken to put a disappointing hurdling debut behind him with Biscar Two rated the best of the rest. The selection was capable on the flat and, while he did not sparkle on his first start over timber at Taunton last month, there should be plenty more to come and he may be worth chancing at the likely odds. Shernatra showed signs of ability in a couple of his starts in bumpers but has no hurdling experience, while Chigorin has given little sign of encouragement so far. Count Boris and Guymur are others worthy of a mention although a bigger threat is likely to come from Biscar Two. The four-year-old takes a big drop in class today and it will be interesting to see if he can take advantage of it but Barathea Blue is probably a good deal better than he showed first time out and he gets the vote.
Barathea Blue 11-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 13, 19l behind Acambo (11-2) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (D) gf in Nov.
Biscar Two (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders until ridden and weakened 7th, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Rimsky (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Oct.
Chigorin 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 33l behind The Mick Weston (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Count Boris 16-1 (8-7) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 16, 8l behind Alfred The Great (8-7) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Oct (Flat).
Guymur (FR) (10-3) In touch 3 out when fell in race won by Le Vernan (10-10) at Auteuil 2m 2f hdl hvy in Mar, 11 ran.
Mount Vernon (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, ridden 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 16, 45l behind Nemisto (11-12) at N Abbot 2m 6f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gf in May '03.
Shernatra (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Led after 2f, headed over 4f out, weakened 3f out, soon eased, dismounted when pulled up in race won by The Grey Man (10-8) at Worcester 2m nhf (H) gs in Apr, 17 ran.
The Luder (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway 4th, shaken up after 5th, challenged approaching 3 out, every chance 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 17, 8l behind Sea The Light (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (D) gs in Nov.
