tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed next, soon ridden, weakened last
with leader, ridden and lost place approaching 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before next
held up, driven and outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure approaching last, not reached leaders
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, soon ridden, outpaced next, soon weakened
led, headed 3 out, soon lost place, behind when pulled before next
in rear, lost touch 3 out, tailed off
mid-division on inside, ridden 2 out, kept on under pressure last, no impression
held up behind, ridden 3 out, never on terms
close up on inside, outpaced 3 out, ridden and weakened from next
mid-division, headway 3 out, squeezed through on inside to lead 2 out, soon ridden, edged left and stayed on well flat
in touch, effort 3 out, soon ridden, kept on, no impression flat
keen early, held up on outside, headway 7th, ridden and one pace when hung right 2 out, no impression
The Irish raider SOMETHING GRAND is selected to win this handicap hurdle for John 'Shark' Hanlon and Ruby Walsh with the in-form Breaking Storm, North Island and Poseidon's Secret looking the biggest dangers to spoiling the Irish party. Not surprisingly the English handicapper has not been too forgiving to the Irish challenger here, awarding her a mark of 103 as opposed to her low 90s mark in Ireland. She is lightly raced though and is re-united with Ruby Walsh who landed a Tramore handicap hurdle on her in April. Breaking Storm carries a 7lb penalty for an easy Sedgefield victory last time. Dropping back in trip here, he will set out to make this a true test. North Island arrives here after four victories in the point-to-point field. He showed little when trained by Howard Johnson but his trainer has a knack of sweetening up others cast offs and this could well be another string to her bow. Poseidon's Secret now looks in the grip of the assessor while top-weight Warsaw Pact should strip fitter for his recent pipe-opener. Something Grand is a tentative selection to land this.
Warsaw Pact (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Led after 2nd, headed after 7th, soon ridden and pulled up 2 out in race won by Indian Pipe Dream (10-11) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Aug, 16 ran.
Yeoman Spirit (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Made most, shaken up approaching last, kept on well, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May beating Olympian (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Breaking Storm (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, led after 2 out, stayed on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf beating Lawgiver (10-1) by 4l, 14 ran.
John Dillon (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Held up, towards rear when fell 4 out in race won by Special Day (10-6) at Newbury 2m 3f 4yo nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Mar, 13 ran.
Poseidon's Secret (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Tracked winner, challenged 3 out, soon ridden, no extra from last, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 8, 5l behind The Good Guy (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Idarah (USA) 8-1 (11-8) In rear, lost touch approaching 9th, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Bantry Bere (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Scutch Mill (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Held up and keen, ridden and headway after 3 out, weakened flat, 5th of 11, 13l behind Wizard of Us (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Jun.
Something Grand (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, 2nd halfway, ridden 2 out and soon no extra, 3rd before last, kept on to go 2nd run-in, 2nd of 13, 8l behind Amarjit (11-8) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-102 frm in May.
North Island (IRE) 1-2fav (12-0) A.p; led app 2 out; easy, won at Umberleigh 3m ptp frm in Jun beating Mvezo (12-0) by 3l, 7 ran.
Mister Wiseman 4-1 (10-11) Chased winner, mistake 6th, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, 2nd of 9, 13l behind Sergheyev (10-11) at N Abbot 2m 3f cnd mdn hdl (5) gd in Aug.
Tide Slider 4-1 (10-10) Led to 3 out, soon outpaced, ridden and stayed on under pressure from next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Winter Star (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Cottam Grange 33-1 (10-4) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up at the last in race won by Markington (10-1) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Aug, 9 ran.
