keen, in touch, ridden, weakened 7th, pulled up before next
stumbled before 1st, held up, ridden, weakened 4 out
close up, chased leader after 2nd, led after 7th, ridden, headed approaching 2 out, weakened flat
in rear, reminders after 3rd, soon behind, pulled up after 5th
held up in rear, never near leaders
held up, headway before 7th, chased leaders after 3 out, kept on one pace, took 2nd flat
close up, slow 6th, soon weakened
towards rear, not fluent 5th, behind, pulled up before 3 out
held up, always in rear
held up, keen, headway after 4th, hit 7th, chased leader approaching 3 out, led approaching next, ran on
Etched In Stone should prove too good here and is given the confident vote over Knighton Lad and Ungaro. The selection won a bumper in good style when last seen out at Perth and as Nicky Richards is sure to have schooled him well for his hurdling debut we are happy to put him up as the one to beat. Knighton Lad is another that is respected as he was a good second behind Brave Rebellion in a bumper last time time out and he is sure to be suited by this step-up in trip. Ungaro at least has some experience over hurdles and he ran okay last time when third behind Ponderon at Wetherby. He would be the one to profit if the leading lights fail to fire, but for the winner we will stick with Etched in Stone.
Ballyowen (IRE) (12-0) 2nd of 14, well behind Lord Of Gortmerron (12-0) at Necarne 3m ptp gs in May.
Black Shan (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Led to 1st, tracked leader, led 5th to approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 11, 28l behind Motorway (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Bright Present (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Led, headed 4th, chased leader until 10th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Harry Collins (10-12) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (D) gd in Mar, 7 ran.
Etched In Stone (IRE) 5-4fav (11-4) Made all, ridden approaching final furlong, kept on well, won at Perth 2m nhf (H) gf in May beating Rossclare (10-11) by 2 1/2l, 17 ran.
Great Expense 100-1 (10-12) Keen, mid-division, lost place 4th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Midnight Creek (11-5) at Uttoxeter 3m sll hdl (G) gd in Oct, 9 ran.
Irish Grouse (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Led to 3rd, chased leaders, weakened approaching 5th, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Field Roller (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (E) sft in Jan.
Knighton Lad (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Led early, prominent, ridden over 3f out, every chance over 1f out, soon edged right, not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Brave Rebellion (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m nhf (H) gf in Mar.
Love Of Classics 66-1 (10-13) Ridden after 5th, always behind, tailed off, 10th of 16, well behind Day Of Claies (11-1) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (D) gs in Oct.
Oscardeal (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Prominent until weakened over 4f out, 18th of 24, 32l behind Missed That (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m nhf Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Pocket Sevens (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Held up, behind when mistake 3 out, 11th of 16, well behind Noble Request (10-7) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (D) gs in Jan.
Stark Raven 16-1 (10-12) Always behind, lost touch 5th, 8th of 11, well behind Boychuk (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gs in Oct.
Supremely Smart (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Behind, headway 7f out, soon one pace, 6th of 15, 42l behind Leading Contender (11-4) at Chepstow 2m nhf (H) gs in Oct.
Ungaro (FR) 9-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, headway 3 out, switched left approaching next, soon ridden, 3rd when hit last, kept on, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Ponderon (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (D) gd in May.
