led, soon clear, headed 3 out, soon weakened
held up, chased leaders, in 3rd after 4 out, led 2 out, forged clear from last
held up towards rear, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden and one pace
in rear, pushed along halfway, weakened 4 out
prominent, one pace 2 out
held up, weakened 3 out
A poor contest where SONNY MULLEN can make the best of his way home ahead of Alpha Way and Nishnash. Kim Bailey's charge was a real eyecatcher in what was a bit of an egg-and-spoon race of a bumper at Market Rasen in the summer, and has been prepared for his hurdling debut here. Nonetheless, there aren't too many who win bumpers by 21 lengths and with pedigree suggesting he will handle cut plus the stable being in good shape we will give him the vote. Alpha Way makes the short trip here from Cheshire and showed enough promise in a Worcester bumper last month. This extra half mile will be a positive step and he is proven on the ground, so he has to be respected. Nishnash ran well enough in defeat, also at Worcester, last time. That was on good to soft and he does have to prove he handles it as testing as today's going, but he is probably capable of taking home some petrol money. Stuff Of Dreams looks best of a pretty moderate remainder, and Sonny Mullen is selected.
Alpha Way (GER) 7-1 (10-13) Led, pulled hard, soon clear, hung right on bend 4f out, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 13, 12l behind Dingat (10-13) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gs in Oct.
Le Platino (GER) 12-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened final furlong, 6th of 10, 14l behind Nocturnal Knight (10-12) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Nishnash 100-1 (11-0) Held up, headway when jumped left 7th, hung left thereafter, went 2nd when went left last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 11l behind Hope Road (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Jun.
Sonny Mullen (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Held up, chased leaders halfway, led 3f out, stayed on strongly to draw clear over 1f out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f NH flat (6) gf in Jul beating Along Came Rosie (10-0) by 21l, 7 ran.
Steveys Lad (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, 12th of 13, 47l behind Meridian City (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gd in Oct.
Dermatologiste 25-1 (11-7) Led 5-9; ev ch when bd 15, in a race won by Just Playfull (12-0) at Ashorne 3m ptp in May, 13 ran.
Stuff Of Dreams (10-7) 5th of 7, 17l behind Kingaroo (11-0) at Lyon-Parilly(FR) 2m 1f 3yo hdl gs in Jun '08.
