prominent, raced keenly, chased leader 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden and weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway after 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace last
in touch, raced keenly, lost place after 4th, stayed on same pace approaching last
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
chased leader to 3rd, remained handy, outpaced after 3 out, hung right approaching last, ran on flat
made all, ridden approaching last, ran on well
held up towards rear, hit 3rd, weakened 3 out
held up, behind, raced keenly, headway approaching 2 out, weakened flat
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on flat
Charlie Mann's runners are going really well at present and we'll take WILLIAM BONNEY to provide him with another winner here, while Pagano is respected. The selection has not won since February 2007 when he took a novices' hurdle at Sandown and was rated 121. He has tried chasing since, without success, and now switched back to hurdles on a mark of 120 and with ground to suit and the yard in form we will take him to win first time out. Pagano is dropped back in trip here by Alan King and has to contend with ground slower than ideal, so with the handicapper appearing to have his measure for the moment we will oppose. Haar won a maiden hurdle at Kempton on soft ground in the spring but was thrashed twice thereafter. He has had a pipe opener before this race and with Andy Turnell having some winners then improvement has to be considered a possibility. Widely Accepted has conditions to suit but looks held from this mark and Approved Force may be a better proposition after a previous win here in similar conditions. Preference, however, is for William Bonney.
Power Elite (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Towards rear, moderate 10th before 5 out, some headway to poor 7th before straight, left 6th 3 out and 5th 2 out, no danger, 5th of 14, 43l behind Holly Tree (11-12) at Roscommon 2m 5f beg chs sft in Aug.
Pagano (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 33l behind Elusive Dream (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Approved Force (USA) 12-1 (10-10) Mid-division, making headway when mistake 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after next, 7th of 14, 25l behind Oh Crick (11-5) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
William Bonney (IRE) 11-4fav (11-8) Held up, not fluent 6th, headway 9th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 8, 24l behind Major Euro (9-11) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Mar.
Adopted Hero (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) In touch, jumped slowly 4th, reminders 5th, lost touch 8th, soon behind, last of 5, well behind Chaninbar (10-12) at Taunton 2m nov chs (4) gf in Apr.
Haar 40-1 (10-5) Held up well in rear, mistakes 1st and 2nd, still last and plenty to do 3 out, switched left and progress approaching last, never reached leaders, 9th of 16, 16l behind Leamington Lad (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oc.
Mujamead 50-1 (11-4) Led until after 1st, chased leaders, ridden and every chance after 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 25l behind Squadron (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Temple Place (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, mistake last, soon went 2nd, no impression on winner, 2nd of 16, 4 1/2l behind Rawaabet (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (5) gs in Sept.
Moon Mix (FR) 9-1 (11-8) Mid-division, mistake 5th, headway approaching next, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, last of 14, well behind Cortinas (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Mar.
Widely Accepted (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Towards rear, ridden after 3 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 13, 10l behind Oldrik (10-6) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Oct.