took keen hold, led, mistake and headed 5th, led again 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened flat
held up, effort and not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, weakening when hit 2 out
mid-division, jumped right 2nd, ridden when jumped right 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 3 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd flat, never troubled winner
prominent, left in lead 5th, headed 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
prominent, led approaching 2 out, clear when stumbled last, pushed out
chased leaders, ridden after 5th, not much room 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
not jumped well, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
It will be interesting to see how Conkering, a mid 80s rated performer on the flat, gets on making his hurdling debut for a yard that can get a horse ready for their first start over hurdles but James Fanshawe's gelding faces no easy task against Marodima, who gets the vote with Paradi rated the best of the rest. The selection may not have beaten a great deal when successful at Chepstow earlier this month but had shown plenty of promise at Uttoxeter on his debut for Alan King previously and, with proven form under today's conditions, he looks the one they all have to beat. Jonathan Geake's Leamington Lad showed some promise on his hurdling debut and makes more appeal than Osprey View, who comes from a yard that has suddenly hit a bad patch. Tabaran would need to improve on all known evidence and of more interest may be David Pipe's French import Paradi, although the form of the yard's runners has to be of some concern with him as well. There is no problem on that score for Marodima though and he is preferred.
Marodima (FR) 2-9fav (10-12) Tracked leader, led 2nd, kept on, easily, won at Chepstow 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs beating Ace Baby (10-9) by 13l, 7 ran.
Conkering (USA) 14-1 (9-1) In touch, headway over 3f out, soon chasing winner, edged right under pressure over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Invasian (9-6) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct (Flat).
Find It Out (USA) 12-1 (10-5) Chased leader, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 10, 12l behind Park Lane Princess (10-5) at Taunton 2m 1f 3yo nov sll hdl (5) gd.
Leamington Lad (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Held up, headway after 3 out, kept on from last, 4th of 16, 8l behind Capitalise (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gd.
Osprey View (IRE) 13-2 (9-1) Rear of mid-division, ridden before halfway, went 8th over 4f out, moderate 6th before straight, soon no impression, 9th of 15, 30l behind Star Wood (9-11) at Roscommon 1m 4f app hcp 0-70 sft in Oct (Flat).
Paradi (FR) (10-1) won at Saint-Cloud 1m 4f stk sft in Sept beating Parpaillot (10-1) by 2l, 11 ran (Flat).
Tabaran (FR) 12-1 (10-12) In touch, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, weakened well before last, 4th of 8, 28l behind Ned Ludd (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gs.
Lake Suprima (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 13, 13l behind Trumpita (8-12) at Ayr 5f 3yo hcp (6) gs in Aug (Flat).
