in touch, ridden and weakened 2 out
led, headed approaching last, soon no extra
prominent, every chance last, one pace
chased leader, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, led approaching last, stayed on well
in rear, soon detached, never dangerous
held up mid-division, weakened after 4th
held up in touch, weakened last
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
in touch, weakened 4th, tailed off
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Solent was given a positive ride, stealing a few lengths at the start when making all the running to comfortably land a novices' hurdle at Bangor and John Quinn's gelding has to be hugely respected in a decent looking contest but marginal preference is for ALFIE FLITS, who gets the vote with Sharevar rated the best of the rest. The selection was high class in bumpers and has performed to a decent level, including winning two listed races, in flat races since finishing a good fourth in Aintree's Champion Bumper in April 2006. Fit from a recent start on the level at Ayr last month, Alan Swinbank's gelding looks the one to beat. Don McCain's Khachaturian has earned a rating of 133 and has to be respected if fit enough for his first outing since May. He makes more appeal than Jordan's Light, who was nothing out of the ordinary on the level and has made no real impression since being placed over hurdles. It will be interesting to see how the market shapes up for Howard Johnson's hurdling newcomer Drever Route but of more interest may be James Lambe's Sharevar, who looks to be going the right way over hurdles judged by his recent success at Sedgefield. This is a decent looking contest and is taken to go to Alfie Flits.
Sharevar (IRE) 5-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent last 2, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Sept beating Mutual Respect (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Solent (IRE) 11-8fav (10-12) Made all, soon clear, unchallenged, won at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Aug beating Wood Fern (10-7) by 12l, 8 ran.
Alfie Flits 9-4fav (10-9) Mid-division, headway over 6f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 4th of 22, 1 1/2l behind Pangbourne (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nhf Grd 2 (1) gs in Apr '06.
Cadeaux Singer 100-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders and keen, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 12, well behind Sharevar (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Drever Route (IRE) 5-4fav (11-2) Soon tracking leaders, effort over 3f out, ridden 2f out, one pace, 4th of 9, 6l behind Broadway Star (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m nhf (6) gd in Dec.
Firestorm (IRE) 150-1 (11-0) Held up, weakened 6th, 6th of 11, well behind Numero Due (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Formby (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden over 5f out, weakened over 3f out, 12th of 15, 37l behind Conflictofinterest (11-2) at Ayr 2m nhf (3) gd in Apr.
Gin Mill (IRE) Deploy gelding out of Hickey's Gin Mill.
Jordan's Light (USA) 9-2 (10-7) In touch, headway approaching last, ridden and kept on flat, no impression, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Laureldean Melody (10-7) at Cartmel 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in Aug.
Linda's Theatre 7-1 (11-2) Held up, headway and in touch 4th, ridden and weakened from 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Or de Grugy (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in May '07, 16 ran.
Minella Boys (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Chased leader until one pace from 3f out, 4th of 16, 14l behind All Three Fables (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) gf in Jul.
Morning Sunshine (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) In rear when unseated rider 5 out in race won by Dancing Mist (10-9) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Sept, 11 ran.
Divine White 66-1 (10-7) Soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Gallileo Figaro (10-10) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) gf, 14 ran.
Khachaturian (IRE) 7-4fav (11-5) Led from 2nd, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Your Amount (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Daraybad (FR) 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 9th of 12, 32l behind Histoire De Moeurs (10-2) at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl (3) gd in Aug.
