prominent, led 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, 8 lengths clear last, tired run-in and headed close home
held up, mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on from last
jumped amateurish, tracked leader, lost place halfway, beaten from 4 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened from 4 out
mid-division, lost place halfway, ridden approaching 4 out, no impression till good headway run-in near finish
towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, soon ridden and one pace
led, headed 4 out, ridden from next, soon weakened
Soho Square gets our tentative vote in this juvenile novices' hurdle with White Lightening and Calcutta Cup the others for the shortlist. The selection was a fair sort on the flat and he hails from a yard that has to be respected in these type of events. He is sure to have been well-schooled for this his hurdling debut and if the market speaks in his favour then it could pay to take the hint. White Lightening should give him the most to think about as he shaped promisingly on his hurdling debut in a race that has worked out well. The yard is in decent form and he is entitled to get competitive. Calcutta Cup ran his best race for a while on the level last time so he is not without a chance on his hurdling bow, although consistency is not his strong point. Mystified has won a couple of races on the flat and is another with each-way claims, but this race will not take much winning and Soho Square could be up to the task.
Calcutta Cup (UAE) 20-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, led over 5f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Virginia Rose (8-4) at Musselburgh 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gs (Flat).
English City (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, back pedalling when blundered 4 out, last of 6, well behind Degas Art (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (1) sft in Oct.
Flying Doctor 20-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off approaching 3 out, 9th of 10, 48l behind European Dream (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd.
Mystified (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) In rear, ridden after 5 out, stayed on to take poor 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 46l behind Tritonix (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gd.
Soho Square 8-1 (8-9) With leader, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 5l behind Gringo (9-10) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jul (Flat).
Stainley (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Mid-division, lost place 7f out, weakened 3f out, 8th of 9, 14l behind New England (9-4) at Chester 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Sept (Flat).
White Lightening (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, 6th of 10, 9l behind European Dream (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd.
Tuscany Rose 12-1 (8-2) In touch, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened 1f out, 8th of 15, 12l behind Sa Nau (8-10) at Newcastle 2m 3yo hcp (5) gd in Sept (Flat).
