led, ridden 2 out, headed approaching last and soon one pace
always behind, ridden and lost touch after 4 out
tracked leader, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, ridden to chase leaders approaching 3 out, every chance last, driven and led flat
mid-division, reminders approaching 4 out and soon lost place, driven and rallied from approaching last
towards rear, headway to chase leaders when hit 2 out, ridden and kept on flat
mid-division, smooth headway to lead approaching and hit last, driven, headed and edged right flat
held up, ridden 4 out, no impression
tracked leader, ridden approaching 4 out, weakening when blundered next
towards rear, hit 4th, ridden and chased leaders approaching 2 out, every chance last, kept on one pace flat
Young Albert finally got it together last time but that had plenty to do with Barry Geraghty's fantastic ride and with the partnership dissolved, the temptation is to look elsewhere and it is his stablemate GLINGERBANK who is nominated, although if the rains came then Political Paddy could easily play a hand. The selection is back over hurdles today following an aborted effort at Aintree where he got rid of his jockey at the eighth fence. He has won at the track on good ground, is 5lb lower on this return to hurdles, and if he bounces back to form then he is unlikely to be far away. Young Albert has a 4lb rise in the weights for his Haydock win and the way he stayed on there suggested that he would have no problem now returned to a slightly longer trip. Mr Woods was well-backed before his recent win at Perth and he may still be well-treated under a 7lb penalty; punters who missed out then may need to be wary of going overboard here as this race looks tougher. Corkage (second to Solway Sunset last time) and Scale Bank come here in good form, with the latter winning three weeks ago at Sedgefield by a wide margin but he was flattered by the fall of a rival at the final flight. Solway Sunset continues to hold his form well; he has been kept busy of late and he has a bit to find with Young Albert on their Haydock clash so he is passed over. Political Paddy was not disgraced on quick ground last time but ideally he needs plenty of cut in the ground, but with one eye on the weather we are happy to side with Glingerbank.
Mr Woods 4-1fav (11-5) Made all, soon clear, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Perth 3m nov hcp 0-115 (4) gd beating Presenting Forever (11-8) by 19l, 13 ran.
Andijan (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division until ridden and weakened 4 out, 8th of 11, well behind Hernando's Boy (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Dec.
Corkage (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) In touch, headway and effort approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Solway Sunset (10-3) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Political Paddy 15-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden between last 2, weakened approaching last, 5th of 9, 23l behind Percussionist (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Young Albert (IRE) 5-1fav (11-3) Tracked leaders and keen, outpaced 5 out, ridden approaching next, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd beating Laustra Bad (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Glingerbank (IRE) 5-1fav (11-5) Not fluent, in rear when blundered and unseated rider 8th, in a race won by Bellaney Jewel (10-6) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 13 ran.
Scale Bank (IRE) 13-8 (11-0) Tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, every chance when left clear last, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf beating Mardood (10-7) by 42l, 9 ran.
Solway Sunset 7-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway and in touch halfway, went 2nd 3 out, every chance next, led flat, headed and no extra final 50 yards, 2nd of 18, 2l behind And Whatever Else (11-4) at Perth 3m 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) gd.
Kilcannon Supreme (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leaders until ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 11, 20l behind So Now (11-9) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Currahee 20-1 (10-3) Towards rear, headway 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, 5th of 13, 8l behind Young Albert (11-3) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
