carried wide bend after 1st, soon mid-division, outpaced, driven and effort to chase leaders 3 out, outpaced before next, never on terms
tracked leaders, bumped 1st, headway 3 out, challenged next, stayed on to press winner an every chance until ridden and one pace flat
tracked winner, challenged 5th, led next, headed 2 out, soon ridden and outpaced by leading pair, no imprssion before last, lost 3rd post
behind from 3rd, never dangerous, tailed off 2 out
in rear, reminders and struggling 3rd, tailed off 6th, pulled up 2 out
raced keenly, mid-division, lost place after 5th, behind from 3 out, tailed off
mid-division on inside, outpaced before 3 out, weakened next
led to 6th, remained in touch, led again 2 out, soon hard pressed, ridden and stayed on well flat
jumped right and mistake 1st, mistake next, in touch, ridden and lost place after 6th, disputing 5th and under pressure when fell 3 out
keen early, held up behind, headway in to mid-division 5th, chased leaders 3 out, stayed on under pressure from next, took moderate 3rd post
Two miles and fast ground suit KANAD well, and Charlie Mann's gelding is taken to follow-up his recent win here in this grade, while What's Up Doc and Jordan's Light are obvious potential dangers. The selection had to work hard enough to score over 2m 4f last month, when today's pilot was up. However, he has proved himself around this tight circuit and goes in these conditions, while he has upwards of 7lbs in hand at the weights compared to if this were a handicap and he is a confident choice. What's Up Doc is next best in at the weights and comes here in decent form after a win and then going close to backing that up in successive Wolverhampton Polytrack sellers. Trip and ground suit in this sphere and he should make his presence felt. Jordan's Light has a bit to find and although in reasonable form he would prefer some cut to be seen to best effect so we'll take him on. Persian Tomcat and Wicklewood are both worth market checks on their introduction to hurdling, but their Flat form suggests that a win for either would be a surprise and Kanad is selected.
Jordan's Light (USA) 4-1 (10-13) Prominent, mistake 4 out, weakened approaching next, 4th of 7, 19l behind Perfect Reward (11-5) at Ludlow 2m Selling Hurdle (4yo-8yo) (4) sft in Apr.
Kanad 5-2 (10-9) Keen tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed narrowly last, rallied to lead again flat, won at Fakenham 2m 4f sell hdl (5) gd in Apr beating Lady Pilot (10-7) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Bold Policy (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Chased clear leaders, lost place halfway, behind when pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Waterloo Corner (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
Favouring (IRE) 150-1 (10-11) Led, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Little Lu (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Jul '08.
Midnight Jack 66-1 (11-4) Tracked leader until 4f out, soon weakened, last of 15, well behind Poppy Come Running (10-11) at Kempton 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Renege The Joker 100-1 (10-5) Tubed, held up, raced keenly, headway after 3rd, chased winner next until 8th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 3rd of 5, well behind Baily Storm (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Vogarth 150-1 (10-6) Soon tailed off in rear, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Acordeon (10-13) at Ludlow 2m nov chs (3) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
What's Up Doc (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Raced keenly, tracked leader after 1st until 5th, fell next, in a race won by Doctor Robert (11-7) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Oct, 7 ran.
Persian Tomcat (IRE) 25-1 (8-4) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 5, 6l behind Little Sark (8-6) at Brighton 1m 4f clm stks (6) gf in Apr (flat).
Wicklewood 100-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 9, 35l behind Sedgwick (8-13) at Kempton 1m 2f clm stks (6) pol in Apr (flat).