tracked leader, led before 2 out, clear before last, eased towards finish
mid-division, headway before 2 out, soon every chance, ridden and lost 3rd place run-in, lost 4th place close home
tracked leaders, ridden before last, no extra run-in, went 4th place close home
in touch, went 6th before 2 out, went 5th before last, kept on to take 3rd place run-in
led and wide, pushed along and headed before 2 out, weakened before last
towards rear, blundered and weakened 4 out, soon reminders
chased leaders in 5th, went 2nd before last, kept on and always well held by winner
always towards rear
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, never dangerous
mid-division, effort before 2 out, never dangerous
towards rear, ridden before 2 out, never dangerous
behind, blundered 3 out, never dangerous
in touch, jumped right and not fluent 4 out, weakened before 2 out
Nicky Henderson has a terrific strike rate here and VOLNAY DE THAIX can set the ball rolling for the champion trainer today. He had a bit in hand when winning a minor contest in the French provinces in June and, though penalised, is expected to improve significantly now with a top NH yard. Chalk It Down made a fair start over hurdles when fourth at Stratford and is another with plenty of scope while Seedling made a winning return to action in a Fontwell bumper and clearly has ability. Plenty of the others are unexposed so a market check is advised for the likes of Bugler's Dream and King's Opus.
Volnay De Thaix (FR) (10-7) won at Les Sables D'olonne(FR) 2m 1f hdl sft in Jun beating Vasuperi (10-5) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Ballygrooby Bertie (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, took keen hold, 8th and no impression after 6th, 9 lengths 5th when mistake 2 out, went 4th last, never near leaders, 4th of 14, 13l behind Curzon Line (10-12) at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Bugler's Dream (USA) 14-1 (9-3) Took keen hold, soon crossed over from wide draw to lead, headed over 2f out, no chance with winner when lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 17, 10l behind Timeline (9-3) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Jun '11 (flat).
Cape Breton 33-1 (10-7) Held up in last pair, struggling 3 out, never dangerous, 7th of 8, 44l behind Fair Trade (11-5) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Chalk It Down (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, went 4th before 2 out, one pace before last, 4th of 13, 15l behind Little Pop (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Oct.
Dan's Wee Man 25-1 (10-7) Mid-division, soon pushed along, weakened over 6f out, 6th of 12, 28l behind Knock House (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Devon Drum 10-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hampered 3f out, headway and switched left over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 19, 21l behind The New One (10-12) at Aintree 2m 1f nat hunt flat Grade 2 (1) gd in Apr '12.
Grand March 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hit 1st, weakened from 3 out, 9th of 13, 37l behind Little Pop (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Oct.
Iguacu 50-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, mid-division, lost place after 4 out, weakened next, 10th of 14, 27l behind Timesremembered (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.
Join The Clan (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Rear of mid-division, some headway into moderate 10th before 2 out, no impression and kept on one pace, 10th of 25, 35l behind City Slicker (11-12) at Punchestown 2m mdn hdl in May.
Mr Fickle (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Chased leaders on outside, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, rallied and kept on again inside final furlong, no threat, 6th of 14, 6l behind Compton Bird (8-12) at Brighton 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) gs in Oct (flat).
No Routine (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, reminder after 2nd, lost place after next, behind 5th, tailed off, 6th of 9, well behind Irish Cavalier (10-12) at Stratford 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) sft in Oct.
Qasser (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Mid-division on inside, driven to chase leaders after 2 out, soon no impression, weakened before last, 8th of 13, 32l behind King Rolfe (11-0) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Seedling 7-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway over 5f out, went 2nd over 1f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, kept on well, won at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gd in Oct beating Doing Fine (11-0) by 3l, 10 ran.
Mariet 10-1 (8-12) Started slowly, towards rear, headway on outside to chase leaders approaching halfway, losing place when hit rail over 4f out, pushed along 3f out, headway over 1f out, plugged on past beaten horses inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 8l behind Corn Maiden (9-6) at Brighton 1m 4f app hcp 0-55 (6) gs in Oct (flat).
Norfolk Sky 16-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, kept on well inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Man From Seville (8-11) at Lingfield 2m hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Sep (flat).
Sister Guru 8-1 (9-2) Steadied and went left start, pulled hard and prominent, ridden and weakened over 1f out, eased when beaten inside final furlong, 8th of 9, 15l behind Night Trade (9-0) at Goodwood 6f app hcp 0-70 (5) gd in May (flat).
King's Opus (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Chased leaders, driven to challenge over 2f out, soon under pressure, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 9, 19l behind Make Me A Fortune (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in May.
