chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, mistake and lost 2nd at hurdle, mistake and weakened next
took keen hold, made all, clear after 3rd until after 6th, clear again from 3 out, comfortably
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, went 2nd from 6th until before 3 out, soon weakened, fell 3 out
held up in touch, jumped left and lost place 2nd, closed after 6th, no impression 3 out, jumped left 2 out
took keen hold, held up in rear group, jumped slowly 5th, some headway before 3 out, soon weakened
in rear, ridden after 6th, behind when badly hampered and unseated rider 3 out
chased winner until 6th, soon outpaced and lost place, plugged on from 2 out, no impression
held up in rear, headway 6th, chased winner 3 out, no impression, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd or 6th, soon ridden, headway 3 out, went 3rd before last, one pace and no impression
Ballyglasheen won this last year and went on to win the Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham and the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock - few of these will have such lofty aspirations. Nellie The Elegant finished ahead of Appellez Baileys and Love Tangle at Plumpton last month and is probably the form pick, though isn't progressing. DRIFTER was very novicey when fourth at Fontwell but will hopefully have learned from that. He gets the nod to improve past more-exposed rivals.
Mabdhool (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, last of 5, 19l behind Jelly Fish (9-7) at Kempton 2m 3yo hcp (4) pol in Sep (flat).
Drifter (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Led and keen, headed after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 7, 33l behind The Wallace Line (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gd.
Earl's Bridge 100-1 (10-12) In rear, not fluent, lost touch from 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, 46l behind Goodbye Dancer (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f 3yo hdl (3) gd in Aug.
Love Tangle (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Chased leader, led 2nd, wandered and headed 4th, chased leader until approaching 5th, chased leaders, jumped slowly 6th, weakened before next, 8th of 12, 27l behind Russian Bolero (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 3yo hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Symphony Of Pearls 66-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway after 1st, jinked right and unseated rider next, in a race won by Karezak (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3yo hdl (4) gs, 12 ran.
Taanif 7-1 (9-1) Led 4f, tracked leader until 2f out, chased leading pair, went 2nd again over 1f out, no impression when carried left and lost 2nd inside final furlong, weakened, 6th of 8, 8l behind Star Anise (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) (flat).
Appellez Baileys (FR) 66-1 (10-12) Close up, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 20l behind Gimme Five (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd.
Nellie The Elegant 10-1 (9-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 9, 21l behind Bishop Wulstan (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 3yo mdn hdl (4) gd.
Craftybird 8-1 (8-2) Chased leaders, ridden 5f out, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 9, well behind Salient (8-12) at Brighton 1m 4f app hcp 0-55 (6) hvy (flat).
