took keen hold, tracked leader who was clear until 2nd, led 5th to 6th, every chance 3 out, weakened last
unruly before start, led, clear to 2nd, hit and headed 5th, regained lead when stumbled next, headed 3 out, beaten when not fluent last
held up, headway after 8th, 5th and in touch when hampered 3 out, beaten after
held up in rear, headway approaching 8th, every chance when fell 3 out
tracked leaders, weakened after 8th, tailed off
chased leaders, lost place approaching 6th, losing touch when not fluent next, hanging left after 8th, pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway 3rd, not fluent 7th, led 3 out, clear last, easily
A race not red hot on quality and former Paul Nicholls inmate PHIDIPPIDES is the tentative suggestion to get the better of his current inmate Al Amaan. Evan Williams now has care of the selection, whose racecourse experience amounts to one bumper run at Kempton in January when handled by the Ditcheat team. He made the frame on that occasion and this 2m 5f should be ideal for him today, while he will also act on the sound surface. With the yard going well he is our pick. Nicholls himself runs the more experienced Al Amaan, who went well enough in defeat on the same card as the selection at Kempton, albeit in a novices' hurdle. He looks set to go close. Double Dash showed up well in bumpers last season, landing one of them here on soft ground, and in the context of this race it matters little that he was out of his depth in Cheltenham's Champion Bumper in March. He is respected. Hideaway won a Towcester bumper in April on good ground, so provided he can jump he can get competitive, while Hong Kong Harry was no great shakes in bumpers, but now that he jumps hurdles for the first time we could see more enthusiasm. A race for the notebooks can go to Phidippides.
Al Amaan 6-1 (10-7) Soon tracking leaders, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 16, 10l behind Riverside Theatre (11-4) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Double Dash 100-1 (11-5) Chased leaders until over 5f out, 20th of 24, well behind Dunguib (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Hideaway 9-2 (11-3) Mid-division, raced keenly, headway 4f out, led well over 1f out, soon ridden, driven out, won at Towcester 2m mdn NH flat (5) gd in Apr beating Divine Intavention (10-10) by hd, 13 ran.
Hong Kong Harry 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, stayed on final 2f, went 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 9l behind Lush Life (10-13) at Kempton 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Kilgobbin Castle (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 8th 5 out, hampered 3 out, soon no extra under pressure, 18th of 28, 28l behind Mull On The Run (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn hdl gf in Sep.
Knight In Purple 3-1 (11-0) Mid-division and keen, outpaced approaching 2 out, hung right and weakened approaching last, 6th of 8, 42l behind Breeze Out (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gf in May.
Phidippides (IRE) 13-8fav (11-4) Prominent, led over 3f out, ridden when headed and hung right 2f out, no extra final furlong, lost 2nd final stride, 3rd of 13, 2l behind General Miller (10-7) at Kempton 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
