took keen hold, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4th, led briefly before 4 out, blundered and lost 2nd 3 out, weakened soon after
took keen hold, tracked leader until 4th, tracked leading pair, hit 5th, tracked leader again 3 out, ridden and hit 2 out, strong challenge flat, stayed on under pressure to lead final 100 yards
held up off the pace in 4th, lost 4th soon after 6th, struggling 3 out, never on terms
held up in rear, steady headway approaching 4 out, stayed on to 3rd well before 2 out, no chance with leading duo
last pair and well off the pace, mistake 3rd, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
took keen hold, off the pace in last trio, mistake 4th, soon in rear, mistake 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
went left 1st, led, briefly headed before 4 out, hung left after 2 out, hit last, headed final 100 yards, kept on
raced in last trio well off the pace, went modest 4th soon after 6th, ridden next, never on terms
off the pace in 5th, struggling from 6th, tailed off
BILLY MERRIOTT, from the same family as The Listener, should improve considerably now faced with a set of obstacles and can make a winning start to his hurdles career. Twentyfourcarat won at Ascot a year ago before finishing tailed off after a break in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper and is another with bags of scope, while Grab The Glory won a Plumpton bumper before running Arab League to half-a-length on his hurdles bow at Fontwell. That experience will stand him in good stead here and he looks sure to run a big race with newcomer Kumasi Clan arguably the most interesting of the others.
Billy Merriott (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Led in start, chased leader, led 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 15l behind Glitzy D'ocala (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn NH flat (6) gs in Jan.
Grabtheglory (IRE) 2-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, chased leaders, effort approaching 2 out, every chance when mistake last, no extra flat, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Arab League (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
High Kite (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, weakened 3 out, 6th of 15, 32l behind Kells Belle (10-10) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Kumasi Clan (IRE) Moscow Society gelding out of Ashanti Dancer.
Rebelious (IRE) 50-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, mistake 5th, outpaced 4 out, headway after next, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 40l behind Basford Bob (11-1) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Struanmore 9-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, hampered 4f out, ridden and kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 13l behind Jackstown (10-9) at Towcester 2m mdn NH flat (5) gf in Apr.
Twentyfourcarat (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Towards rear of mid-division on outside, lost place and dropped to rear over halfway, soon lost touch, tailed off, 23rd of 24, well behind Cheltenian (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Zagova (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Behind, no chance when hampered on bend approaching straight, 8th of 17, 22l behind Shuil Royale (11-10) at Wincanton 2m NH flat (6) gs in Feb.
Fifi L'amour (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, 8th over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 8th of 12, 34l behind Hazy Tom (11-0) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gd in Sep.
