towards rear, pushed along and struggling before 3 out, plugged on
led until after 1st, chased clear leader until before 4 out, weakening when blundered 4 out, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
not always fluent, held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, went modest 6th before next, plugged on
raced keenly, held up in mid-division, smooth headway tracking leaders in 3rd approaching 3 out, went 2nd approaching next where every chance, ridden between last two, held last, driven and one pace run-in
held up in mid-division, ridden after 3 out, hung left and weakened before next, soon eased, never involved
always towards rear, struggling 4th, tailed off
jumped left, led after 1st, clear next until 4 out, headed and weakened quickly before next, tailed off
prominent in chasing group, led before 3 out, pushed along and headed before next, chased winner until before next, ridden and weakened between last two
tracked leaders, 2nd travelling well before 3 out, led before 2 out, ridden clear run-in, comfortably
held up in rear, pushed along and struggling before 3 out, went left last, never a factor
mid-division, weakening when mistake 4 out, tailed off
hit 1st, prominent in chasing group, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, plugged on
mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
mistake 4th, always towards rear, never a factor
prominent in chasing group, disputing handy 4th 3 out, ridden and went 3rd before the last, no impression when went left last, no chance with leading duo
prominent in chasing group, 2nd before 4 out until after 4 out, chased leading pair until 3 out, pushed along before next, ridden and weakened approaching the last
Philip Hobbs trained the winner of this in 2011 and again last year. He runs Mister Big, who was only beaten half-a-length on his return from a lay-off at Chepstow. But this has a strong entry for a race of its type with High Bridge, sixth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March, making his hurdling debut. Golden Birthday and Chelsea Flyer have already shown enough to suggest they’ll be thereabouts and Atlantic Storm is improving with experience. Man Look and What About Carlo are both smart handicappers on the Flat and the latter should find this easier than the Grade 2 he contested at Cheltenham – he runs his best races here. Wenyerreadyfreddie could be anything and his yard continues in cracking form while The Caller wasn’t beaten far when third at Huntingdon. CRUISEAWEIGH was a little keen at Sandown on his hurdling debut but still travelling strongly when the bit slipped through his mouth after jumping the third-last and he lost his steering. He remains a nice prospect and could gain compensation here.
Atlantic Storm (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) In rear, outpaced after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 15 3/4l behind Charlemar (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f (3) gs in Dec.
Baron De Ligniere (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Held up, in rear, struggling after 5th, behind next, tailed off, last of 10, dist behind Movewiththetimes (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gs in Oct.
Broughtons Rhythm 4-1 (11-0) In touch in mid-division, weakened before 3 out, soon behind, pulled up before next, at Kempton 2m mdn (4) gd in May.
Chelsea Flyer (IRE) 7-4 (10-12) Behind, headway after 4 out, chased leader from last, staying on when not much room near finish, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind Cracking Find (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
Cruiseaweigh (IRE) 6-4fav (10-12) Raced keenly, tracked leader, led approaching 3rd, went left 5th, hung badly left after 3 out, bit slipped and pulled up before next, at Sandown 2m (3) gs in Dec.
Face To Face 14-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, lost place before 6th, mistake and weakened 3 out, 7th of 8, dist behind Gray Day (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f (4) gd in Dec.
Glance Back 66-1 (11-0) Led, ridden and headed 5f out, soon lost place, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, dist behind River Wylde (11-0) at Warwick 2m (6) gs in May.
Golden Birthday (FR) 6-4 (11-8) Chased leaders, took keen hold, 2nd from 2nd, not fluent 4th, challenged 3 out, soon led, jumped left and not fluent last, ridden and headed flat, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Owners Day (11-1) at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (5) gd in Nov.
High Bridge 4-6fav (10-0) Restless in stalls, slowly into stride, soon tracking leaders, 2nd over 5f out, led over 4f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind The Tartan Spartan (8-8) at Thirsk 1m 4f mdn stks (5) sft in Apr.
Instingtive (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, in 5th before 2 out, no impression, 5th of 9, 30 1/2l behind Deciding Moment (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gd in May.
Le Braye (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up towards rear when mistake and unseated rider after 3rd, at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) gd in Dec.
Man Look 12-1 (9-5) Keen, tracked leader until ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 10 1/4l behind Frontiersman (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Mister Big (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, chased winner before last, kept on and always held, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Utility (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) gs in Nov.
New Reaction 100-1 (11-8) Mid-division, 6th and in touch before 3 out, weakened before next, 8th of 13, dist behind Owners Day (11-1) at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (5) gd in Nov.
The Caller 9-4fav (11-8) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, ridden before 2 out, switched left before last, stayed on, unable to challenge, 3rd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Finula (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (5) gs in Nov.
Wenyerreadyfreddie (IRE) 7-4 (11-4) In rear, headway over 4f out, led over 3f out, headed over 2f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 0, 4 1/2l behind Midnight Maestro (10-10) at Doncaster 2m 1f (6) sft in Mar.
What About Carlo (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, several slow jumps, lost place 4 out, weakened after 2 out, last of 6, 24 3/4l behind Moon Racer (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov.
