held up in touch, badly hampered and unseated rider 4th
prominent and keen, blundered 1st, led approaching and fell 4th
held up towards rear, hampered 4th, pushed along 7th, tailed off
held up, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on from last
with leaders and keen, led briefly approaching 2 out, ridden and one pace approaching last
with leaders, led approaching and headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 2 out, one pace
held up mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up, brought down 4th
held up, led 7th, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
led, headed approaching and left in lead 4th, headed 7th, soon lost place, pulled up before last
held up in rear, some headway approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, badly hampered 4th, lost place 7th
held up towards rear, headway to lead 2 out, kept on
Alan King's runners are beginning to come into form so Midnight Appeal has to be respected on his hurdling debut having run well in both starts in bumpers but preference is for another hurdling newcomer ALDERTUNE, who gets the vote with Fabulous Fred rated the best of the rest. The selection has shown a decent level of form in bumpers having won well at Taunton and not been disgraced in either start before or after that win and, with Harry Skelton able to claim 3lbs because he is riding for Paul Nicholls, he looks worth backing to make a winning debut. Pliny won a bumper for Venetia Williams at Towcester in December and was not disgraced on his first start over hurdles at Chepstow when last seen in February so has to be considered on his reappearance. Gary Moore's Forget It has had more racing than most of these having had plenty of experience on the flat and has run creditably in both starts over hurdles but he remains a maiden under all codes so looks best watched. Noel Chance's Fabulous Fred has found one too good in all three outings that he has had so far, including on his debut in an Irish point-to-point, and he should appreciate the step up in trip for his hurdling debut. This looks an interesting maiden hurdle with some potentially useful looking recruits but the vote goes the way of Aldertune, who can make a winning debut over timber.
Aldertune (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Prominent, chased leaders over 3f out, one pace final 2f, 3rd of 15, 9l behind Volador (11-3) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Beau Lake (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 12th of 16, 38l behind Bangkok Pete (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gd in May.
Beyond Moonbeams 150-1 (11-2) Led, clear 3rd, ridden and headed after 3 out, stayed on same pace, hit last, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Nictory Vote (11-0) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Fabulous Fred (IRE) 4-6fav (11-4) Held up in rear, steady headway to go prominent over 4f out, chased winner 2f out, strong challenge under pressure inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind The Red Laird (10-11) at Plumpton 2m 2f mdn NH flat (6) hvy in Feb.
Forget It 11-4fav (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, driven and stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 15, 16l behind Silk Hall (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Little Al 2-1 (10-13) Led, reminder approaching 8th, headed after 3 out, weakened flat, 4th of 7, 11l behind Blazing Desert (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Midnight Appeal 10-1 (10-12) In touch, raced keenly, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 13, 8l behind Bold Addition (10-9) at Aintree 2m 1f NH flat (4) gs in May.
Natural Action 14-1 (10-9) Not fluent, always behind, 7th of 11, 30l behind Whenever (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Oct.
Pliny (IRE) 13-2 (10-10) Held up, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, under pressure and edged left from 2 out, 5th of 15, 10l behind Hey Big Spender (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Princely Hero (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 5th, outpaced 2 out, went modest 3rd last, 3rd of 13, 9l behind Mission Control (10-12) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Jul.
Quelclasse (FR) 18-1 (11-8) Mid-division, ridden and dropped rear 5th, tailed off when pulled up after 7th, in a race won by Trevian (11-1) at Worcester 2m 4f cond nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jul, 14 ran.
Shannon Bob (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up, raced keenly, improved 3rd, went 2nd approaching 6th, led soon after 6th, headed after 7th, hung left and weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, well behind Arkose (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Tchang Goon (FR) 100-1 (10-5) Chased leader to before 3 out, weakened rapidly, tailed off, 7th of 10, 48l behind Black Jacari (10-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Bob's Sister (IRE) 125-1 (10-11) Held up, not fluent 4th, never dangerous, 8th of 10, 47l behind Call Me A Legend (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Dot's Delight 7-4fav (10-3) Held up in rear, took good hold, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd after 8th until 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 6, 11l behind Amie Magnificent (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
