led until not fluent and headed after 1st, prominent, slightly hampered 2nd, led approaching 3 out, kept on, ridden out
held up towards rear, headway 2nd, ridden to chase leaders approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, left prominent at 2nd, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, tracked leaders after 2nd, weakening when mistake 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 2nd, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on but no extra run-in
mid-division, headway and hampered 2nd, ridden approaching 3 out, soon one pace
held up towards rear, headway 3rd, ridden after 4th, soon weakened
mid-division, hampered 2nd, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, left in lead at 2nd, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
always behind, tailed off from 4th
led after 1st, until went badly left and unseated rider 2nd
In an interesting opener, Nobody Tells Me, Flying Falcon, Paulo Dancer and Young Dude are all shortlisted with the vote going to Nobody Tells Me. Martin Pipe's Nobody Tells Me cost 52,000 euros and has a good French pedigree so is of obvious interest in this race. Dual bumper Flying Falcon has not been seen since finishing unplaced in the Aintree bumper in April but, nonetheless, rates as an interesting hurdling recruit. Another French import, Paulo Dancer, who is trained by Paul Nicholls, is another that also has to be of interest. Petitjean ran well for a long way last time on his hurdling bow and, dropped in trip today, could fare even better. Finally, the Jonjo O'Neill Worcester bumper winner Young Dude has also to be considered, along with Ludlow bumper winner Hop Fair and Martin Pipe's other runner Milan Deux Mille, while Inishturk is nicely bred for this game and showed some promise on his hurdling bow so might go well. Overall, though, we will nominate Nobody Tells Me, but keep a close eye on the betting not least because, at the time of writing, the champion trainer had not stated his jockey arrangements.
Flying Falcon 5-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden over 6f out, soon weakened, 11th of 15, 40l behind Diamond Sal (10-6) at Aintree 2m 1f nhf Grd 2 (A) gd in Apr '04.
Inishturk (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Towards rear, reminders when hit 3rd, hit 7th, weakened from next, 6th of 14, 37l behind Bougoure (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gd.
Mister Chatterbox (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 10th of 17, 34l behind Turko (11-5) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) sft.
Montrolin 100-1 (11-5) Held up, headway when driven along 7th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 14, 45l behind Dream Alliance (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Nobody Tells Me (FR) Lute Antique gelding, half-brother to winning jumpers Passereau and Black Des Fieffes.
Paulo Dancer (FR) (10-10) Held up, headway and every chance 2 out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 12, 8l behind Sabre D'argent (10-3) at Auteuil 2m 2f hdl sft in Jun.
Petitjean 20-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, every chance between last 2, weakening when mistake last, 5th of 14, 13l behind Opera Mundi (10-7) at Folkestone 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft.
Shinjiru (USA) 100-1 (10-8) Behind and never in contention, 7th of 11, 33l behind Hot 'n' Holy (11-4) at Chepstow 2m nhf (H) gs in Dec.
The Fast Frog (FR) 100-1 (10-11) Towards rear, headway approaching 6th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Molostiep (11-4) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs, 16 ran.
Whatcanisay 200-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, 9th of 18, 32l behind Dare Too Dream (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (D) gs in Dec.
Young Dude (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Mid-division, headway halfway, ridden to lead over 2f out, edged right from over 1f out, ran on, won at Worcester 2m mdn nhf (H) gf in Apr beating Delightful Cliche (10-10) by 1 1/2l, 19 ran.
Hop Fair 25-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 6f out, tracked winner over 2f out, carried left, kept on gamely to lead close home, won at Ludlow 2m nhf (H) gd in Apr '04 beating Flying Druid (10-10) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Milan Deux Mille (FR) 9-4fav (10-12) Pulled hard, led after 2f, hung left from over 2f out, veered badly left inside final furlong, driven out, won at Exeter 1m 5f nhf (H) sft in Dec beating Over The Flow (10-5) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
