made all, ridden approaching last, ran on well
in touch, keen hold, effort 3 out, weakening and mistake last
behind, headway 4 out, soon under pressure and beaten
chased leaders, ridden to challenge 2 out, soon one pace
held up in touch, chased winner before 3 out, soon ridden and never able to challenge
held up, never dangerous
prominent, ridden and weakened before 4 out
mid-division, ridden and mistake 3 out, soon beaten
chased leaders, weakened 4 out
tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, soon ridden and no impression
INVENTOR will take some beating in the opener, while Pokfulham is a likely improver and Ladies Best should be able to get involved. The Donald McCain yard continues in good form and the five-year-old gelding Inventor should have learned plenty from his debut in this sphere, when he was not asked too many questions when it was obvious he was not going to be winning. There is, admittedly, concern over the described soft ground, although it does not tend to get too testing here and he has won on good to soft before on the flat, so we hope he can handle it and bring that flat ability to bear over hurdles. Ladies Best is, by comparison, proven in conditions and is another runner from a yard going well. He wouldn't have as much stamina as the selection, but he has similar sort of credentials from the level and would be no shock winner. Pokfulham has plenty to find with that pair judged on his flat form but he has youth on his side and made a pleasing debut at Doncaster in December, so may be capable of better now hurdling. Apollo Shark is a nicely-bred debutant who is rated around the 70 mark on the flat. He may prove better over timber, but he has yet to prove himself beyond 7f on the level and in spite of having stamina in his pedigree, he has to show he will get two miles on the track itself. Mister Wall Street has got room for improvement, but will need to show more to land this, and preference is for Inventor.
Inventor (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Held up in touch, slow 4th, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 36l behind Menorah (11-5) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Apollo Shark (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) In touch, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened, 12th of 16, 9l behind Glenridding (9-3) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Aug (flat).
Bale O'shea (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Mid-division on inner, 5th approaching 3 out, no impression from next, 7th of 11, 20l behind Steviemac (10-6) at Punchestown 2m nov hcp hdl 8Evens09 hvy in Nov.
Ladies Best 10-1 (11-5) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, 4th and beaten when mistake next, 4th of 10, 12l behind Premier Sagas (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Mister Wall Street (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, weakened approaching last, 4th of 13, 19l behind Amanda Carter (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Dec.
Parson's Punch 12-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, kept on from 2 out, no impression, 6th of 12, 17l behind Mesbaah (10-12) at Perth 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Play The Rock (FR) 50-1 (11-5) Behind, struggling 7th, soon lost touch, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Premier Sagas (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Prince Rhyddarch 8-1 (9-4) Close up, led after 1f, headed over 8f out, weakened over 4f out, 11th of 13, 30l behind Swords (8-13) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (6) fbs in Nov (flat).
Soneva Gili (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, reminders after 4th, blundered 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Abstinence (10-12) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec '08, 11 ran.
Young Anthony 200-1 (11-0) Held up, pushed along after 4th, hit next, weakened 4 out, 10th of 13, well behind Amanda Carter (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Dec.
Night Knight (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, well behind when pulled up before last, in a race won by Kudu Country (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Dec, 13 ran.
Pokfulham (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching last, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 15, 2l behind Alazan (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
