held up in touch, headway to lead approaching 2 out, headed towards finish
held up in rear, pushed along and reminders after 5th, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, disputing 2nd when jumped badly left, baulked rival horse last one pace flat
led, pushed along after 6th, headed 7th, soon weakened
tracked leader, pushed along after 6th, led 7th, headed approaching 2 out, no extra flat
tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 6th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in touch, not fluent 2 out, badly hampered when disputing 2nd last, rallied flat, led towards finish
Aston Lad has the highest rating of the seven runners that go to post for this selling hurdle but Sarah Humphery's gelding is hard to back with any confidence and a better bet looks to be EARLSFIELD RAIDER, who gets the vote ahead of Cavalry Twill. Jimmy Frost's gelding has gone well in sellers in recent starts, including when a close third behind Tabaran at Stratford on his reappearance last month, and he has to be respected. Rare Article makes his debut for Tim Vaughan this afternoon and may do better for the switch in stable, while Compton Star needs to improve on recent disappointing efforts in handicaps to play a hand in the finish. Gary Moore's Alrafid was good value for his win over course and distance in a seller in April and has every chance if able to reproduce a similar level of form today but he has been below par of late and a better bet looks to be Earlsfield Raider. Caroline Bailey's gelding has run to a reasonable level of form in two starts this term and he has an obvious chance in this grade.
Alrafid (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Struggling after 5th, always towards rear, 8th of 16, 37l behind Stumped (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f sell hdl (5) gd in Jun.
Aston Lad 12-1 (10-11) Held up, effort approaching 3 out, outpaced next, no impression approaching last, 4th of 6, 11l behind Hockenheim (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 5f beg chase (4) hvy in Mar.
Axinit (GER) 40-1 (11-8) Led until 2nd, chased leaders, mistake 6th, soon ridden, weakened next, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Swift Sailor (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f sell hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Cavalry Twill (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Towards rear, outpaced 5th, stayed on to go 3rd after 3 out, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 12, 23l behind Tabaran (10-12) at Stratford 2m sll hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Compton Star 9-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, mistake 3 out, never nearer, 8th of 13, 12l behind Isintshelovely (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.
Earlsfield Raider 28-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 3 out, weakened last, 3rd of 13, 13l behind Tarkani (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
Rare Article (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Prominent, not fluent 8th, weakened after next, 12th of 15, 40l behind Daraz Rose (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
