close up, chased leader soon after 2 out, challenged last, driven and stayed on flat, led post
always in rear, ridden and struggling after 5th, tailed off
tracked leader, pecked 2nd, fell next
held up in rear, pushed along 5th, staying on into modest 6th when hit last
mid-division on outside, slightly hampered 3rd, driven along and struggling after 3 out
held up, headway 5th, chased leaders next, went 2nd soon after, led 2 out, joined and mistake last, ridden flat, caught post
mistake 1st, mid-division, slightly hampered 3rd, struggling 5th, well behind when mistake and unseated rider 2 out
mid-division on inside, weakened soon after 3 out
close up, left 2nd at 3rd, led 5th to 2 out, no extra before last
behind, mistake 4th, no chance when blundered 2 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway going okay to track leaders 3 out, weakened after next
mid-division until ridden and struggling 5th, tailed off
chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, every chance 2 out, weakened flat, just held on for 3rd
led to 5th, weakened rapidly, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
With Nicky Henderson's team coming into form now, Theft has to be respected but he failed to complete in three of his five starts over hurdles last term and looks best watched in a race taken to go to MEGASUE, with Gentle Caribou rated the best of the rest. The selection lacks any experience over timber but Gary Moore's mare showed a decent level of form in bumpers, winning her first two starts prior to finishing down the field in the valuable bumper at Aintree on Grand National day. Jonjo O'Neill's Wild Rhubarb was useful on the flat and could be of interest first time up over hurdles but she stayed two miles on the level and may want further than this over timber. Lucy Wadham's Queen Poline has shown a similar level of form in bumpers and has to be of interest on her first start over timber, while Sheila's Castle failed to win in four starts in bumpers but has won a maiden on the flat and may do better now switched to hurdling. Nick Gifford's Gentle Caribou has shown improvement with each start in bumpers and now makes her debut over hurdles but preference is for another hurdling newcomer Megasue.
Alasi 85-40 (11-2) Chased leader, pushed along over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 14, 12l behind Tara Taylor (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f mdn NH flat (6) gs in Jan.
Behest 66-1 (10-5) Always in rear, ridden 4f out, soon struggling tailed off, 9th of 14, 23l behind Scandal (10-2) at Lingfield 1m 5f 3yo nhf (6) sft in Nov '08.
Etain (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up, ridden after 6th, struggling 2 out, 7th of 8, 34l behind Silk Affair (11-3) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Gentle Caribou (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Led, headed 9f out, led over 5f out, clear over 2f out, ran on well, won at Towcester 2m N H flat (5) hvy in Feb beating Ridley Taylor (10-13) by 10l, 9 ran.
Little Roxy (IRE) 50-1 (9-7) Held up, pushed along over 4f out, soon struggling, last of 9, 18l behind Dubai Storming (8-5) at Kempton 1m 3f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Feb (flat).
Megasue 7-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, over 5f out, hung left and weakened over 2f out, 14th of 20, well behind Candy Creek (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f N H flat lst (1) gd in Apr.
Merstone Lady 100-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, weakened over 6f out, 10th of 12, well behind Alverstone (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f N H flat (6) gd in Oct.
Oh No Rosa (FR) 25-1 (10-10) Led, jumped badly left 1st 3 hurdles, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 15, 34l behind Asturienne (10-10) at Towcester 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Queen Poline (FR) 20-1 (11-4) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 18, 10l behind Golden Sunbird (11-4) at Sandown 2m mrs N H flat lst (1) gd in Mar.
Sheila's Castle 18-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway 6f out, led over 2f out, soon headed, stayed on inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Grand Award (10-12) at Worcester 2m NH flat (5) gf in Jul.
Slick Mover (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Held up, headway approaching 5th, short-lived effort after 3 out, 7th of 10, 30l behind Petit Fleur (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Sweet Request 40-1 (7-12) Tracked leaders, challenging well over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 8th of 9, 25l behind Sir Boss (9-10) at Chepstow 1m 4f app hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Jul (flat).
Theft 15-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, weakened 4 out, pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Cockatoo (11-6) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar, 14 ran.
Veras Joy 200-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, pushed along 5th, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Whenever (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Oct, 11 ran.
Wild Rhubarb 15-8 (9-1) Held up, ridden along and headway over 2f out, effort and no impression final furlong, 3rd of 5, 7l behind Hawk Mountain (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun (flat).
