pulled early in touch, headway bend approaching 3 out, ridden and found nil after
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and challenged approaching 2 out, led and jumped left last, driven out, jinked left near post
in touch, ridden after 3 out, no impression after
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
chased leader, challenged bend approaching 3 out, led 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed last, not pace of winner flat
towards rear, reminder half way, ridden bend approaching 3 out, soon no chance
led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up behind, ridden and effort approaching 3 out, one pace after
There is not a huge amount of hurdling form for backers to go on here and what can only be a tentative vote goes to Just Amazing, with Baseball Ted and Toastmaster rated the pick of the remainder. The selection made a promising start to his career when a creditable third in a Uttoxeter bumper on his only previous start in May. Sure to have been well schooled for his hurdling debut, the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding gets the vote to make a winning start to his career over timber. So Wise So Young has more experience than most but is becoming expensive to follow, while Posh Emily showed some promise in bumpers but probably needs to improve to trouble the judge judged by his debut over timber here earlier this month. Baseball Ted, like the selection, showed promise in his one start in a bumper and has to be respected along with Jonjo O'Neill's Toastmaster who has the benefit of hurdling experience. Plenty have chances but it is Just Amazing that gets the vote.
Baseball Ted (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up, headway from 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, not trouble leaders, 5th of 11, 9l behind Kempley Green (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Euro Import 100-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, headway at halfway and in touch, ridden and effort 2 out, no extra approaching last, 6th of 15, 18l behind Overstrand (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (E) hvy in Nov '03.
Galantos (GER) 66-1 (11-0) Led, soon headed, ridden 3 out and weakened 2 out, 4th of 15, 15l behind Planet of Sound (11-0) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.
Just Amazing (IRE) 5-2fav (10-10) Mid-division, headway 6f out, one pace final 2f, 3rd of 15, 10l behind Dave's Dream (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) gd in May.
Naxox (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Held up, hampered 5th, headway approaching 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 16, 44l behind The Sliotar (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Prelude d'Estruval (FR) Sheyrann gelding out of a lightly-raced mare.
So Wise So Young 8-1 (10-12) Chased leaders until not fluent 8th, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Zero (11-10) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf, 11 ran.
Toastmaster (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Hampered 1st, mid-division, ridden 5th and soon weakened, 8th of 14, 40l behind Star of Canterbury (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Moonlight Music (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Mid-division, weakened before 3 out, 13th of 18, 40l behind Enforce (10-6) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Posh Emily 16-1 (10-7) Held up and keen, headway to lead after 2nd, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra, 4th of 7, 6l behind Brousse En Feux (10-5) at Exeter 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) gf.