mid-division, headway 5th, hit 3 out, one pace from 2 out
led after 1st until after 4th, led again 6th until approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, headway 5th, chased winner 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on but no impression
held up in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, headway after 4 out, weakened after last
held up, fell 4th
held up, headway on inside approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, smooth headway 4 out, led approaching 3 out, clear last, pushed out readily
held up, headway approaching 3 out, pushed along approaching 2 out, stayed on to go 3rd near finish
always behind, tailed off 7th
led until after 1st, led again after 4th until 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, lost place 6th, soon struggling, tailed off
A difficult one for punters with a combination of improvers, out of form sorts and recent castoffs competing for a valuable prize. Avoiding those we will plump for Nathos. Charlie Mann had audaciously entered him for the Long Walk Hurdle against Inglis Drever but this looks more his level at present. He seems capable of handling any surface and on all racecourse evidence, the horse can act at anywhere between two and three miles. Mughas finished fourth to Geos in the Tote Gold Trophy in 2004. He missed a season last year but Alan King's horses are going well and anything achieved today will be a bonus. Sh Boom was once useful for Jonjo O'Neill. Steve Brookshaw has saddled plenty of winners around Haydock Park so don't be too surprised to see any market support this afternoon. Jazz D'Estruval has been selected by Tony Dobbin out of the two runners from the Nicky Richards stable. He has gone well fresh in the past and will relish the conditions. St Pirran is attempted to be sweetened up by Richard Guest with a run over hurdles. A comment that similarly applies to Seebald. Supreme Leisure is out of the handicap but he has always been held in high regard and his "pulled up" came at a time when the Howard Johnson team were not firing. Nathos looks the safest option in a minefield for punters.
Turtle Soup (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Mid-division, steady headway when fell at the 7th in race won by Mr Cool (10-4) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) gs in May, 13 ran.
Sh Boom 33-1 (11-1) In touch, keen, tracked leaders from 3rd, ridden when mistake 2 out, weakened, 7th of 19, 14l behind Attorney General (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (B) gs.
Seebald (GER) 40-1 (11-0) Close up, ridden 10th, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Impek (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
Mughas (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Towards rear, headway approaching 8th, ridden and no impression from 3 out, 10th of 20, 18l behind His Nibs (10-10) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Apr '04.
Flying Enterprise (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, not fluent 2nd, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 10, 13l behind Manorson (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (A) gd in Nov.
Nathos (GER) 10-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 7th, led 2 out, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl (B) gs in Nov beating Not Left Yet (10-4) by 2l, 15 ran.
Paperprophet 7-1 (11-3) In touch, soon driven along, hampered 4 out when weakening, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Holland Park (11-0) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Apr, 22 ran.
Spring Pursuit 18-1 (10-12) Always behind, 8th of 14, 31l behind St Matthew (11-4) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) gs in Nov.
Jazz d'Estruval (FR) 5-4fav (11-10) Held up, mistakes 3rd and 4th, blundered 8th and 13th, ridden to chase leaders after 4 out, weakened approaching next, 3rd of 6, 19l behind My Will (11-2) at Perth 3m nov chs (B) sft in Apr.
Haut de Gamme (FR) 16-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, ridden last, staying on when not much room towards finish, 5th of 19, 2 1/2l behind Garvivonnian (10-4) at Aintree 3m 3f lst hcp chs (A) gs in Nov.
St Pirran (IRE) 7-4fav (10-12) Held up in rear, ridden after 4 out, went poor 3rd approaching 3 out when blundered, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, well behind Bob Justice (11-3) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) hvy.
Better Days (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Prominent, led 7th to 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, hung left approaching last, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, held close home, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Vicario (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft.
Supreme Leisure (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) In touch until weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Turpin Green (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (C) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Cherub (GER) 16-1 (11-4) Held up, steady headway 2 out, soon chased leaders, ridden to lead last, headed and not pace of winner run-in, 2nd of 19, 2 1/2l behind Verasi (10-13) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (A) hvy.
