tracked leaders and keen, led 3 out, clear approaching 2 out, comfortably
chased leaders, unseated rider 5th
close up, pushed along approaching 8th, weakened from 3 out
held up, headway approaching 4 out, soon chasing leaders, blundered 2 out, soon weakened
held up, reminders after 6th, tailed off 4 out
held up, outpaced approaching 3 out
held up in touch, weakened 3 out
with leaders, led 6th, headed 7th, weakened after 4 out, soon tailed off
in rear, effort approaching 3 out, never dangerous
held up, headway after 3 out, every chance last, not quicken run in
led, headed 6th, weakened from 8th, tailed off
held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened from next
with leaders, led 7th, headed from 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, one pace from 2 out
held up mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
A cracking Listed contest where plenty have chances but DIAMOND HARRY will be very tough to beat, despite topweight. Nick Williams' gelding went righjt to the very top in novices' company last season, carrying all before him and finding only Mikael D'Haguenet and Karabak too good for him in the Grade 1 Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival. He acts well with plenty of cut in the ground and looks sure to get this longer trip, while his speed will help him come the business end. Burton Port looks a serious danger. Nicky Henderson switches him back to hurdles after landing a Bangor beginners' chase recently, and as one who stays this far and handles conditions he ought to be bang there from his current mark. Pause And Clause is much better than he was able to show at Aintree in April. He relishes cut and should stay this far, and may well emerge as a leading player. The novice McMurrough will find it tougher against seasoned handicappers, while mudlark Saphire Night has been done no favours by the assessor after his Uttoxeter win in May. Rathcor looks the pick of the Ian Williams-trained pair, although you could argue that Lysander is well handicapped after his chase win last time, if able to transfer those abilities back to hurdling. Pennek and Kayf Aramis are both well up to this standard and the latter will love the ground here and stays very well, so with the yard in great form he should go close. You won't see many more competitive staying hurdles all season and Diamond Harry can sparkle once more.
Diamond Harry 4-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway on outside approaching 3 out, challenging after flight, led, went left and hit 2 out, headed when mistake last, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 14, 6l behind Mikael D'haguenet (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Ring The Boss (IRE) 18-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 14, well behind Mr Thriller (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 4f listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Oct.
Kayf Aramis 11-1 (11-12) Led, headed approaching 2nd, chased leader, not fluent 6th, led 3f out, ridden approaching last, headed after flight, stayed on until no impression and lost 2nd final 100 yards, 3rd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Templer (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gf in Oct.
Pause And Clause (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Hung right throughout, mid-division, jumped slowly 9th, lost place when badly hampered 10th, no chance after, tailed off, 11th of 15, well behind Ogee (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Pennek (FR) 8-1 (11-12) In touch when fell 6th, in a race won by Made In Japan (10-1) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr, 24 ran.
Buena Vista (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakening when mistake 2f out, 8th of 14, 19l behind Templer (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gf in Oct.
Oscar Park (IRE) 50-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, plugged on, 4th of 14, 36l behind Mr Thriller (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 4f listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Oct.
Auroras Encore (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, soon driven and outpaced, no impression from next, 4th of 7, 13l behind Overstrand (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Naiad du Misselot (FR) 28-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, pushed along 3out, some headway approaching last, never in contention, 9th of 14, 10l behind Right Option (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Oct.
Burton Port (IRE) 10-3 (11-2) In rear, soon tracking leaders, led after 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on well, won at Bangor 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft beating Massasoit (11-2) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Zacharova (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Over jumped and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Galant Nuit (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft, 12 ran.
McMurrough (IRE) 2-1 (10-12) In touch, headway 2 out, ridden and effort when not fluent last, stayed on under pressure to lead flat, held on towards finish, won at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Canadian Blaze (10-5) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Saphire Night 13-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, pushed along 3 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, not fluent last, led and hung badly right flat, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in May beating Will If I Want (11-7) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
Rathcor 3-1fav (11-5) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, waiting for room approaching 2 out, ridden to lead last, ran on, won at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs beating Lordsbridge (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Lysander (GER) 3-1fav (9-13) Tracked leaders, hit 4th pushed along approaching 10th, lost place, headaway approaching 14th, led next, stayed on well from last, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct beating Bob Bob Bobbin (10-9) by 11l, 9 ran.
Mortimers Cross 16-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed 2 out, ridden and weakened last, 6th of 14, 15l behind Risk Runner (10-13) at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Wendel (GER) 4-6fav (11-9) Tracked leader, prominent halfway, led approaching 6th, hit 2 out, soon ridden, headed last and weakened flat, 2nd of 6, 27l behind Knockara Beau (11-9) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Feb.
