hampered, unseated rider 1st
led, jumped right, fell 1st
in touch, keen, tailed off from 4 out, fell 3 out
mid-division, ridden, stayed on from 3 out to chase winner last
prominent, jumped left 1st, lost place 3rd, ridden 3 out, gradually weakened
in touch, ridden 3 out, gradually weakened
towards rear, some progress after 3rd when visible led after 4 out, headed 3 out, weakened
towards rear, headway after 4 out, kept on
held up, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on
in touch, keen, ridden, weakened 3 out
in touch, led approaching 3 out, ran on
mid-division, weakened 4 out
held up, when visible in lead after 3rd, weakening when headed after 4 out
Devilfishpoker Com has struggled to trouble the judge since his success in a novice hurdle at Market Rasen in June and, even in this grade, may again have to settle for a minor role giving weight away all round so preference is for Bluto who gets the vote ahead of Dr Dream. The last mentioned is less exposed than most of these but has already shown a reasonable level of ability, including in this grade, and has to be respected. Homecroft Boy has the ability to take a hand here but is hard to recommend on recent evidence, while Limit was well beaten on his jumps debut and looks best watched. David Pipe's Ful of Grace was not beaten far in a similar contest at Taunton last month and has to be respected but preference is for Bluto. Pat Haslam's gelding has shown enough in recent starts in this grade to suggest that he is more than capable of taking the honours in this race and he is taken to do just that.
Devilfishpoker Com 11-4jt-fav (10-11) Prominent, pushed along after 5th, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 11, 32l behind Taran Tregarth (9-11) at Towcester 2m nov sll hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Art of Being (IRE) 250-1 (10-7) Led, ridden 3 out, soon headed and weakened, 10th of 14, 50l behind dhtrs Pertemps Networks (10-12) & Bantry Bere (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) sft.
Bluto 4-7fav (10-12) Raced keenly, tracked leader, led before 3 out, ridden next, headed, no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Bobansheil (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov sll hdl (5) gs.
Dr Dream (IRE) 10-3 (10-5) Held up but in touch, hard ridden from 6th, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 6, 3l behind Ardesia (11-0) at Taunton 2m 1f 3yo nov sll hdl (5) gf in Nov.
Flash Harry 50-1 (10-7) Rear of mid-division, weakened from 4 out, 15th of 17, well behind Queen Althea (10-8) at Listowel 2m 3yo hdl gf in Sept.
Gifted Heir (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, tailed off 4 out, 8th of 9, well behind Art Professor (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 3yo nov hdl (2) gd in Nov.
Homecroft Boy 66-1 (10-12) Behind, mistake 4th, soon struggling, no impression, 7th of 8, 15l behind Foreign King (10-12) at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gf in Nov.
L'Oiseau de Feu (USA) 12-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2 out, 12th of 15, well behind Brousse En Feux (11-5) at Hereford 2m 1f amt nov hcp hdl (5) gs.
Limit (GER) 80-1 (10-12) Chased winner, led 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon no chance, 8th of 9, 49l behind Ashkazar (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) sft.
For Eileen 80-1 (9-12) Keen, held up, mistake 2nd, ridden 6th, weakened next, 8th of 12, well behind Hall of Fame (10-12) at Fakenham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gs.
Ful of Grace (IRE) 7-2 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure from last, just held, 2nd of 6, shd behind Ardesia (11-0) at Taunton 2m 1f 3yo nov sll hdl (5) gf in Nov.
Llizaam 100-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, ridden to lead 3 out, headed next, weakened approaching last, 5th of 14, 10l behind Strathaird (10-5) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov sll hdl (5) gf in Nov.
Mollyanko 28-1 (8-6) Started slowly, behind, ridden, headway 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 11, 12l behind Dancing Duo (8-6) at W'hampton 7f 2yo sll (6) pol in Oct '06 (Flat).
Star In Our Eyes (IRE) 200-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind La Vecchia Scuola (10-5) at Catterick 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd.
