prominent, not fluent 7th, ridden after 9th, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear on outside, not fluent 6th, struggling from next, tailed off
in rear, pushed along 6th, got into mid-division 9th, soon weakened, tailed off
behind, not fluent 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, pulled hard, outpaced 9th, stayed on from 2 out, mistake and hampered last, not trouble winner
mid-division, lost place before 6th, hit next, tailed off
led, headed approaching 3 out where not fluent, soon weakened
mostly mid-division until improved 7th, hard ridden after 3 out, 2nd briefly when hit 2 out, soon hung left, weakened flat
mid-division, weakened after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway when hit 4th, weakened 8th
held up, headway 8th, ridden before next, weakened 2 out
pressed leader, every chance 3 out, hung left approaching last where jumped right, no extra flat
prominent, raced keenly, 2nd briefly 8th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 7th, led approaching 3 out, clear when not fluent last, stayed on
A weak stayers' opener where we will side with OAMARU STONE, while Lucky Dancer and Ballyvesey can show up well. The selection has had just the one start since joining Paul Nicholls on the back of an Irish pointing success. He ran with credit in that Fontwell bumper back in February, but this stiffer test will be much more to his palate and he is bound to have been well schooled for this hurdling debut. He is related to a staying chase winner and is from the family of 1968 Gold Cup winner Fort Leney, and he may well be good enough. Lucky Dancer was a fast ground Worcester maiden hurdle winner for Evan Williams in August and was in the process of running a big race here last time over this trip when an unlucky faller two out. With a clear round he may well give the selection plenty to do. Ballyvesey will probably prefer this genuine good ground to the fast ground he encountered at Huntingdon last time, when a distant second. He has the requisite stamina for this but perhaps the frame looks his best bet. Thedeboftheyear was a course and distance winner in April when the ground was given as it is today, though she struggled under a penalty next time and has to carry that again here. I'moncloudnine seeks a hat-trick but would definitely want the rains to come to improve his chance, and preference is for Oamaru Stone.
Lucky Dancer 10-3 (11-1) Tracked leaders, took closer order after 4 out, every chance when fell 2 out, in a race won by Jim Bobs Girl (10-5) at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gd, 7 ran.
Azulada Bay (IRE) 100-1 (11-1) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 11th of 15, 32l behind Kangaroo Court (11-4) at Lingfield 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
I'moncloudnine (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Held up in last place, took close order 11th, ridden next, soon went third, chased leader 2 out, every chance last, edged left and led flat, ran on, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar beating Craven (10-3) by 4l, 7 ran.
Karinga Magic 50-1 (10-12) Held up, raced keenly, prompt 1st, ridden after 7th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 9th, in a race won by Magnifico (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gs in Jul, 8 ran.
Mauricetheathlete (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Not fluent, led to 2nd, remained prominent, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 11, 19l behind Fred Kennet (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Monzon (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 10th, headway approaching 12th, chased winner 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace, no impression flat, 2nd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Jacarado (10-13) at Towcester 3m hcp 0-90 (5) gf.
Oamaru Stone (IRE) 7-4fav (11-3) Led until over 2f out, soon ridden, one pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 6l behind Latin America (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gd in Feb.
Senderos (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, blundered 6th, soon tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Walamo (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Star Of Memory (FR) 66-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, weakened 5th, tailed off, 7th of 8, 44l behind Hayes Princess (10-5) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (3) gf.
Tanktastic 15-2 (10-0) Led, not fluent 5th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, well behind Orion Express (10-6) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in May.
Ballyvesey (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Held up well off the pace, closed slightly 11th, went 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Toby Jug (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m noc chs (3) gf.
Dawn At Sea 4-1 (11-0) Behind, headway halfway, chased leaders next, ridden to challenge 2 out, staying on same pace, 3rd of 16, 9l behind Deadline (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Sep.
Thedeboftheyear 7-2 (10-9) Mid-division, pulled hard, headway 5th, bumped next, led 9th to 3 out, soon ridden, weakened flat, 5th of 11, 14l behind Always Bold (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Love of Tara 12-1 (10-2) In touch, not fluent 2nd or 5th, pushed along after 7th, mistake 3 out, no extra after 2 out, 5th of 10, 9l behind Qianshan Leader (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gd.
