mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 6th
mid-division, struggling after 6th, no impression when hit 3 out
held up in touch, chased leading pair approaching 3 out, ridden to lead flat, ran on
in touch, hit 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
raced keenly, held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, lost place approaching 4th, soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up before 6th
led to 1st, remained prominent, weakened well before 3 out, fell last
held up towards rear, headway on inside after 6th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out
prominent, weakened approaching 3 out
raced keenly, led 1st, hit last, ridden and headed flat, not quicken
mid-division, weakened 5th, soon behind
held up towards rear, headway 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
prominent, ridden after 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, headway after 5th, chased leader after next, challenged from 3 out, one pace flat
in rear, pushed along after 4th, stayed on past beaten horses from 3 out, went a moderate 4th flat
OENOLOGUE is a speculative selection to land this handicap hurdle for the Alison Thorpe yard; Kerrimuir Lass is an obvious danger while handicap debutants First Point and Track Mac are two intriguing contenders. A cheap purchase at the Ascot Horse-In-Training Sales during the summer from the Niall Madden yard in Ireland, Oenologue made his UK debut at Huntingdon last time where he travelled very strongly into the straight before weakening alarmingly late on. He had shown snippets of ability in some of his starts in Ireland, particularly at Kilbeggan three starts back. This is his first ever start over two miles and what pace he possess is rather a guessing game, but it is likely that plenty of use will be made of him and if that is the case Oenologue could well land this. It is almost impossible to assess what First Point achieved in his three starts over hurdles. They were all contested on deep ground while his sole victory German flat victory was achieved on good ground. Track Mac, an Irish point-to-point winner was supported as if defeat was out of the question on his racecourse debut at Gowran Park last year. He confirmed his potential with a good second behind the smart mare Desert Abbey in a Limerick maiden hurdle in July before disappointing twice since. On a literal line through Desert Abbey he looks well weighted off 108 here. Kerrimuir Lass caught the eye on more than one occasion before breaking her maiden at Towcester. She is open to further improvement but Oenologue is given the vote to win on his second UK start.
Quai Du Roi (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Mid-division, closer in 5th approaching 4 out, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from next, 5th of 16, 22l behind Lucky At Last (10-10) at Ballinrobe 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-109 gs in Sept.
Summer Lodge 11-4 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led after 3rd, headed after 4 out, led again on bit next, edged right after last, stayed on, hard held, won at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Nov beating Regent's Secret (10-12) by a nk, 11 ran.
First Point (GER) 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, hit 5th and 3 out, effort after 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 7, 15l behind Quizzene (11-0) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Kerriemuir Lass (IRE) 85-40jt-fav (11-3) Chased leaders, hard ridden and weakened 2 out, 6th of 14, 16l behind Dancing Dasi (10-12) at Towcester 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Muraco 4-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway when mistake 6th, joined leader next, ridden and every chance after 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 11, 35l behind Marsh Court (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd.
Track Mac (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Led to 5th, weakened quickly 4 out, 11th of 13, well behind Khazar (11-12) at Kilbeggan 2m mdn hdl sft in Aug.
Sonic Anthem (USA) 9-1 (10-5) Led, headed 4th, close up when mistake 4 out, lost action and pulled up 2 out in race won by Chrysander (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nov chs (4) gf in Sept, 15 ran.
Celticello (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Held up, headway approaching 7th, beaten last, no extra flat, 5th of 8, 8l behind Stainley (10-8) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Mar.
Histoire De Moeurs (FR) 5-1jt-fav (10-3) In touch, headway 4 out, effort and every chance next, weakened last, 6th of 12, 26l behind Border Tale (10-6) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Australia Day (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Led and raced keenly, headed 2 out, one pace when hit last, 4th of 15, 5l behind Pagano (10-13) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Tora Petcha (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden when left 2nd and hampered last, 2nd of 18, 3l behind Art Modern (10-12) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (4) gf.
Oenologue (FR) 5-1 (10-11) Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, hit 3 out, soon went 2nd and not much room, relegated to 3rd before 2 out, weakening when went left last, soon hung left, 3rd of 9, 28l behind Will The Till (10-0) at Huntingdon 2m.
Golden Square 20-1 (11-1) Chased leader, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching next, 10th of 16, 23l behind Picot de Say (10-10) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Joe Jo Star 9-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 7th, tracked leaders approaching 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 15, 13l behind Histoire De Moeurs (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gd in Jul.
Royal Prodigy (USA) 11-1 (11-12) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 34l behind Nearly A Breeze (9-13) at Exeter 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.
