jumped right, led, not fluent 1st, soon clear, wandered into 2nd and mistake, not fluent 4th, mistake, pecked and headed 3 out, weakened very quickly, pulled up after 2 out
held up in mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway before 3 out, weakened approaching next, pulled up before last
chased leaders, led 3 out, jumped right and not fluent 2 out, quickened clear flat, easily
mid-division, headway after 5th, not fluent 3 out, 3rd and no impression when not fluent 2 out
chased leader, badly hampered 3 out, not recover
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, well held next
chased leaders, challenging when mistake 3 out, switched right before next, no impression flat
well behind, closed 5th, no impression before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, no impression on leaders before 2 out, well held 4th last
Quite a few have decent claims for this maiden hurdle, in which the 'dark horse' is clearly Humphrey Bogart who represents the champion trainer. He has only had the one run over timber and very interestingly was last seen when not running at all badly in Listed company on the Flat last month. Market support for him would have to be taken extremely seriously. Jumping Jack unseated through no real fault of his own last time but is otherwise consistent enough but THE TWISLER showed plenty of ability when runner-up at Wincanton latest and can go one better around this similar type of track which appeared to suit the last day. Competition must be looked at carefully on this first run since wind surgery and Gothic Empire is steadily getting the hang of the hurdling game too.
Competition 28-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, stumbled at path crossing after 3rd, not fluent 3 out, headway when not much room before 2 out, went 2nd and stayed on flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Mcgroarty (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn (5) gd in Aug.
Gothic Empire (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, left in narrow lead 2 out, hit last, soon headed and no extra run-in, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Crushed (10-10) at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) gd in May.
Humphrey Bogart (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) In touch, short of room and shuffled back after 1f, pulled hard in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on, never nearer, 7th of 11, 5 1/4l behind Mount Moriah (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 6f lst stks (1) gs in Apr.
Maifalki (FR) 6-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Hamilton 1m hcp (5) gs in May beating Jacob Black (8-7) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
The Twisler 3-1 (10-12) Mid-division, closed after 3 out, went 2nd last, every chance flat, held close home, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Djin Conti (10-12) at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (5) gd in May.
Tripartite (IRE) 10-3fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, challenged 4f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 12l behind What A Welcome (9-4) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (5) gf in May.
Jumping Jack (IRE) 5-6fav (10-10) Led, not fluent 3 out, pushed along when jinked left and unseated rider 2 out, at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) gd in May.
Romanor 7-2 (10-10) Pulled hard, hit 3rd, held up in rear, still keen and headway going to 4 out, 4th soon after 3 out until weakened before next where left 4th and mistake, 4th of 7, 17 1/4l behind Crushed (10-10) at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) gd in May.
Admiral's Sunset 5-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 2nd until before 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, dist behind Let's Sway (10-1) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gd in May.
