held up in rear but in touch, headway after 2 out, weakening when blundered last, tailed off
in touch, headay approaching last, kept on under pressure to go 3rd closing stages, never able to challenge
chased leaders, every chance approaching last, led flat, all out
held up, headway to lead before 5th, strongly challenged after 2 out, headed towards finish, no extra
in touch, under pressure after 2 out, soon weakened
with leaders, weakened after 2 out
prominent, ridden to challenge after 2 out, faded flat
soon led, headed after 4th, , chased leaders until weakened 2 out
Barafundle can be given a chance dropped in class after a decent effort behind Trustan Times in Grade 3 company at this track last time but ELY BROWN is preferred. He also drops down a grade after landing a handicap at Aintree on his comeback and Charlie Longsdon's charge is taken to follow up. South Leinster ploughed through the mud to score at Kelso last month and makes more appeal than maiden hurdle winner Joseph Mercer and Makhzoon, who only won a seller at Hexham last time. Duke Of Monmouth didn't get far before coming a cropper at Newbury recently but won well enough at Warwick before that and may figure.
Shalone 6-1 (11-11) Held up in 5th, closed 6th, hit next, weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 34l behind Thelobstercatcher (10-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr '11.
Ely Brown (IRE) 9-2 (9-10) Prominent, not fluent 5th or 6th, led 9th, pressed from 3 out, mistake last, soon edged right, just held on, won at Aintree 3m hcp hdl (2) sft in Oct beating Buachaill Alainn (10-3) by hd, 10 ran.
Alpha Victor (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, soon ridden and behind, 6th of 8, well behind South Leinster (10-8) at Kelso 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
South Leinster (IRE) 4-1 (10-8) In touch, led before 7th, made rest, driven 2 out, hard pressed last, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, won at Kelso 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov beating What A Steel (10-8) by 1l, 8 ran.
Joseph Mercer (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, went 2nd before last, kept on well to lead run-in, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov beating Ubique (11-0) by nk, 9 ran.
Makhzoon (USA) 4-1 (11-1) With leader, led 5th, headed after 2 out, regained lead before last, soon clear, eased towards finish, won at Hexham 2m 4f sell hdl (5) sft in Nov beating Spear Thistle (10-12) by 14l, 4 ran.
Duke Of Monmouth (IRE) 7-1 (9-13) Led until fell 2nd, in a race won by Fair Along (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Nov, 17 ran.
Merrydown (IRE) 17-2 (10-5) Tracked leaders, lost place 4th, struggling 6th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 10l behind Bear's Affair (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft.
Barafundle (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders and keen, outpaced after 4 out, kept on and no impresion from before 2 out, 4th of 16, 12l behind Trustan Times (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
