led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no chance with leading pair when lost moderate 3rd last
held up in rear, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten, tailed off
tracked leader from 2nd, led narrowly 3 out, driven clear approaching last, ridden and stayed on well flat
tracked leaders, 4th and outpaced after 3 out, stayed on to go moderate 3rd last, no chance with leading pair
keen early, tracked leaders, mistake 1st, blundered 2nd, joined winner 3 out, every chance next, ridden and one pace approaching last, held flat
Some good novices have won this in the past, including Menorah two years ago. Maidens don't have a great record in the contest, however, which suggests it may be worth opposing useful Flat performer Vulcanite and Kuilsriver, who last ran in the Triumph Hurdle in March. Book'em Danno has a dual penalty but Agent Archie won easily on his hurdling debut at Ludlow and Plenty Pocket wasn't beaten far behind the smart Molotof in a Listed event at Haydock last month. TETLAMI was having his first race in 18 months when scoring easily at Sandown, however, and there should be more to come from the Henderson gelding on that evidence so he gets the vote today.
Book'em Danno (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Led, ridden before and headed last, kept on, 2nd of 8, nk behind Christopher Wren (10-12) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Plenty Pocket (FR) 3-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, tracked winner from 1st, ridden and every chance last, hung left flat, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 5, 5l behind Molotof (11-8) at Haydock 2m Listed nov hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Tetlami (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, headway to lead approaching 2 out, driven before last, ridden and stayed on well to go clear flat, won at Sandown 2m nov hdl (4) gs beating Black Thunder (10-12) by 5l, 12 ran.
Kuilsriver (IRE) 125-1 (11-0) Never better than mid-division, 12th of 23, 16l behind Zarkandar (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Vulcanite (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Led, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, well beaten 4th over 1f out, 5th of 7, 10l behind Beaten Up (8-10) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gf in Oct (flat).
Agent Archie (USA) 11-8fav (11-0) Close up, led 5th, ran on strongly from last, won at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov beating Ingleby Spirit (11-0) by 7l, 11 ran.
Specialagent Alfie 100-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, effort 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 14, well behind Mister Dillon (10-5) at Lingfield 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Nov.
