tracked leaders, went 2nd and challenged after 3 out, outpaced approaching next, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, weakened before next, tailed off
behind, hard driven 3 out, stayed on to take moderate 3rd near finish, no chance with front pair
led, tended to jump left, headed after 3 out, outpaced before next, soon no chance with front pair, lost moderate 3rd near finish
mid-division, in touch 3rd, not fluent next, driven 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leader, led after 3 out, drew clear from next, blundered last, unextended flat, easily
keen early, tracked leaders to 3rd, soon behind, lost touch 6th, conitnued tailed off
HANDMAID has looked a nice prospect since switching to hurdles, scoring at Bangor in May and winning by seven lengths at Perth last month. Peter Bowen's mare can give the weight away to Lucky Cody, who has got his act together lately and was only beaten a short-head at Uttoxeter last month. Blazing Glen ran easily his best race so far under Rules when second at Huntingdon in May and looks the pick of the remainder ahead of another winning pointer Billy Two Tongues.
Handmaid 6-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, clear last, ran on well, won at Perth 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jul beating Never Never (11-2) by 7l, 6 ran.
Battledancer 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway before 5th, lost place when not fluent 7th, well beaten 3 out, 7th of 8, well behind No Substitute (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Billy Two Tongues 20-1 (10-6) Held up in touch when blundered and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Perfect Candidate (10-13) at Wetherby 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in May, 5 ran.
Blazing Glen (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led before 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Discay (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in May.
Joyful Motive 100-1 (10-7) In touch in 5th, weakened approaching 7th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Alderbrook Lad (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Lucky Cody (IRE) 5-2 (10-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd, challenged 3 out, every chance last, kept on and just failed close home, 2nd of 7, shd behind The Snappy Poet (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f cond mdn hdle (5) gd in Jul.
Legend's Secret 50-1 (9-12) Led, headed before 3rd, lost place approaching 5th, soon behind, tailed off, 4th of 6, well behind Laser Blazer (10-12) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jul.