held up in touch, fell 5th
chased leaders to 1st, mid-division, hampered 5th, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, weakened from next
behind, ridden to chase leaders approaching 2 out, soon weakened
close up, went 2nd from 3rd, blundered 3 out, no extra from next
held up, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, hampered 5th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, hampered 5th, weakened after 3 out
prominent, pushed along after 3 out, kept on from next
held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, soon chasing winner until no extra flat
held up, badly hampered and brought down 5th
led, clear from 2nd, headed approaching 2 out, no extra
held up in touch, led approaching 2 out, kept on well, driven out
held up, hampered 5th, headway and ridden approaching 2 out, chased winner flat, kept on
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
close up, weakened 3 out
Ameeq has been running well over hurdles and on the flat of late but Richard Newland's gelding may be a shade high in the weights now and a better bet in an ultra competitive contest looks to be HIBIKI, with Gringo rated the best of the rest. The selection is making his seasonal reappearance but Philip Hobbs ran him successfully on the flat at Epsom last month and, with more to come for that run, he looks worth siding with on his return to hurdles. Charlie Mann's Katie's Tuitor has plenty of weight to carry following a successful campaign last term and may struggle to give weight away all round, while David Pipe's Gaspara has struggled against the handicapper since winning the Fred Winter in 2007 and looks best watched. Cootehill has been running well for Nigel Twiston-Davies of late but an 11lb rise for his win over course and distance when last seen two months ago looks harsh. Nortonthorpe Lad is a consistent performer and should run his usual good race, while Danehill Willy is better than he showed at Bangor last time and would not be far way if able to reproduce the form he showed when second in the Summer Plate here previously. Howard Johnson's Gringo ran well when second to Alsadaa in a valuable contest at Sandown when last seen in April and has every chance if fit for this but Hibiki has solid claims following his recent Epsom success and is taken to make a winning return to hurdles.
Katies Tuitor 16-1 (11-12) Held up, pushed along approaching 4 out, never dangerous, 14th of 17, 43l behind Valain (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in Aug.
Gaspara (FR) 11-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and no response 3 out, 9th of 12, 44l behind How's Business (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f mrs lst hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Izita Star 25-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Treaty Flyer (10-6) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd.
Ellerslie Tom 22-1 (11-6) Led, challenged when hit last, kept on, headed towards finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Treaty Flyer (10-6) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd.
Danehill Willy (IRE) 9-2fav (11-8) Mid-division, headway 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 15, 34l behind Toshi (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Aug.
Gringo 20-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden and headway 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on, went 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Alsadaa (11-0) at Sandown 2m Lstd hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Cootehill (IRE) 13-2 (10-0) Tracked leaders, challenged, going well before 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gd in Jul beating Ameeq (9-8) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
Amazing King (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, joined leader 4th, ridden to chase leaders approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 11, 11l behind Treaty Flyer (10-6) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd.
Leslingtaylor (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Raced keenly in touch, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 17th of 24, 40l behind Joe Jo Star (11-0) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in May.
Nortonthorpe Lad (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 9th of 21, 18l behind Culcabock (11-0) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl 4yo+ (2) gs in Apr.
Hibiki (IRE) 11-4fav (10-6) Held up in rear, headway 7th, pushed along before 3 out, weakened 2 out, blundered last, 5th of 7, 28l behind Hernando Royal (9-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Mar.
Ameeq (USA) 22-1 (9-8) Mid-division, headway 5th, outpaced after 6th, rallied when not fluent 2 out, kept on flat, 2nd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Cootehill (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gd in Jul.
Callisto Moon 9-1 (10-8) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, weakened from next, last of 16, well behind Elzahann (10-5) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Treaty Flyer (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd beating Ellerslie Tom (11-6) by nk, 11 ran.
Quasar d'Oudairies (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 6th of 11, 21l behind Treaty Flyer (10-6) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd.
Arctic Wings (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Keen, always in rear, 8th of 12, 43l behind Qulinton (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Rory Boy (USA) 9-2 (10-11) Mid-division, headway when not fluent 5th, lost place under pressure next, weakened 2 out, 6th of 9, 22l behind Rajeh (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
