raced keenly, in touch when badly hampered and unseated rider 4th
mid-division when brought down 4th
mid-division, left in touch 4th, outpaced approaching last, soon weakened
mid-division, hampered 4th, lost place 6th, soon behind, tailed off
held up in rear, hampered 4th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, headway on outside 3 out, outpaced last, ridden and stayed on under pressure to go 2nd final 50 yards, no impression
towards rear, mistake 2nd, hampered 4th, headway and in touch 2 out, 4th when blundered last, led and edged left, bypassed final flight, soon ridden and stayed on
held up, headway and in touch 2 out, ridden and effort flat, kept on same pace
led, hit and headed 2nd, remained in touch, driven and outpaced after last, weakened flat
held up, struggling 6th, soon tailed off
in touch, went 2nd after 4th, hampered by loose horse next, ridden and lost place flat, soon weakened
raced keenly, led 2nd, ridden after last, headed and bypassed final flight, no extra final 50 yards (final flight omitted).
An awful contest where WAVE POWER just gets the vote ahead of Bygones Of Brid and Witherspoon. Like many of these, the Howard Johnson-trained selection makes his hurdling debut here, and he does have a bit to prove after disappointing in his final bumper in the spring at Wetherby. However, he had previously looked like making into a nice hurdler and with the yard among the winners we will take him to show us more today. Witherspoon has a similar profile to the selection and his handler, Lucinda Russell returns one of her better strike rates at this track, so the five-year-old is respected. However, he may just want soft ground to be at his best, while the same goes for dual bumper scorer Bygones Of Brid, who was out of his depth in the Cheltenham Grade 1 bumper in March. The positive for him is this step up in trip, which looks a good move by Karen McLintock. Sue Smith won this last year, and while The Quiet King is related to Grand National winners Royal Athlete and West Tip, it would be a surprise if he was up to this on debut. Qbuster's Irish form has looked nothing special, while Quannapowitt returns to the scene of his only attempt over hurdles, when he unseated at the second here in May. Wave Power gets the nod.
Also Jo 17-2 (10-9) Keen early, in touch, lost place over 6f out, soon behind, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Triggerman (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Nov.
Annoy The Saints (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Held up mid-division, lost place approaching 3 out, 10th of 13, 33l behind Mcmurdo Sound (10-11) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Sep.
Braden Brook (IRE) 80-1 (10-11) Prominent, ridden over 4f out, soon driven and weakened, 12th of 16, 38l behind Karmadice (10-8) at Newcastle 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Oct '08.
Bucephalus (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Never better than mid-division, 17th of 24, well behind New Phase (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 5yo mdn hdl gd in Apr.
Doodlebop (IRE) 250-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened from 4 out, beaten when hit 2 out, 6th of 8, well behind Sir Tantallus Hawk (11-8) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Global Flyer 33-1 (10-12) Not fluent, in rear, awkward 3rd, no chance 9th, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Baddam (11-5) at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
I'll Be Frank 66-1 (10-7) Held up, outpaced over 4f out, 8th of 13, 38l behind Caerlaverock (10-10) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Qbuster (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division, closer in 6th before 3 out, no extra approaching next, 7th of 13, 19l behind Urban Gale (11-2) at Kilbeggan 2m mdn hdl sft in Aug.
Quannapowitt (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Moonwalking (11-5) at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May, 8 ran.
Surely Blue (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, ridden over 6f out, weakened over 4f out, 10th of 12, 35l behind Flaygray (11-4) at Perth 2m NH flat (6) gf in Sep.
The Quiet King Commanche Run gelding out of Kings Athlete.
Wave Power (IRE) 3-1fav (11-10) Chased leaders, lost place over 3f out, 5th of 13, 25l behind Caerlaverock (10-10) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Witherspoon (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 10, 16l behind Carters Rest (10-11) at Ayr 2m NH flat (4) gd in Apr.
Bygones of Brid (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Mid-division until 7f out, 23rd of 24, well behind Dunguib (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Golden Globe (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Always behind, 7th of 12, 32l behind Hillview Boy (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m NH flat (5) gf in Dec.
Steel Giant (USA) 33-1 (10-9) Never better than mid-division, 7th of 15, 40l behind Fine Call (10-11) at Downpatrick 2m 2f 4yo mdn hdl gf in Sep.
