chased leader, challenged on outside going well when mistake 3 out, stayed challenging and every chance when hit 2 out, still upsides when hit last, kept on flat, not recover
made virtually all, hit 4 out, ridden before and joined next, kept slight advantage, hit 2 out, still pressed when better jump last, driven and stayed on gamely flat
always behind, lost touch 3rd, tailed off
in touch, struggling soon after 4 out, kept on one pace flat, no chance
reluctant to jump off, always in rear, hit 2nd, lost touch before next, tailed off when pulled uo before 4 out
always behind, lost touch after 3rd tailed off
held up in 6th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders, weakened soon after 4 out, tailed off
took keen hold, held up in 7th, travelling well before 4 out, headway to 3rd before 2 out, no chance with leading duo
mistake 2nd, always in rear, tailed off
chased leading duo until weakened and hit 2 out
William Hogarth has the ability to pick up more races but he has proved difficult to win with as he's finished second on no fewer than six occasions and he looks vulnerable to KARASENIR. Phillip Hobbs' charge finished runner-up in two of his four starts in bumpers showing a fair level of form but looked a different proposition on his hurdling bow at Market Rasen. He never came out of a canter in winning by 26 lengths and looks capable of following up under a penalty in this stronger race. Paul Nicholls has won the last two renewals and Pennellis is an obvious threat as he looks to get his career back on track following a frustrating campaign which saw him fail to complete on two of his three runs over hurdles. Beside The Fire showed ability for another stable last season and is the most interesting of the remainder.
Karasenir (IRE) 10-11fav (10-12) Made all, clear approaching 2 out, very easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep beating Altan Khan (10-7) by 26l, 10 ran.
William Hogarth 16-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 36l behind Overturn (10-7) at Ayr 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Bemused (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Alw pr & ld, jnd aftr 4out, not go with wnr but kow, 2nd of 12, 10l behind Cynery (12-0) at Stradbally 3m ire ptp in Apr.
Beside The Fire 10-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, outpaced 6f out, headway under pressure over 3f out, stayed on to go 2nd 2f out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 10l behind Arrow Barrow (11-3) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (5) sft in Apr.
Comanche Kriek 200-1 (11-4) In touch and keen, lost place after 5f, tailed off, 15th of 16, well behind King Of Leon (11-4) at Ludlow 2m nhf (4) gs in Dec '08.
Contentwithmyluck (IRE) 80-1 (10-8) Led, clear 12f out, ridden and headed 3f out, soon weakened, 12th of 15, well behind Poppy Come Running (10-11) at Kempton 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Don Jose (USA) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 10, 18l behind Swiss Art (10-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Aug.
Park Lane 4-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, weakened after 4 out, 9th of 14, 21l behind Gilded Age (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Pennellis (FR) 33-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, beaten when fell 2 out, in a race won by Johnny Mullen (10-9) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb, 8 ran.
Puerto Azul (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Towards rear, some headway 2 out, never on terms, 6th of 11, 28l behind Shoreacres (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov '08.
Salybia Bay 33-1 (10-3) Always behind, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Clerk's Choice (10-4) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
