led, jumped left and mistake 1st, headed next, weakened well before 3 out, went badly left 2 out and last, tailed off
in touch, lost place 4th, behind after, tailed off
mid-division, headway approaching 4th, led before 2 out, hung left approaching last, stayed on strongly to draw clear flat, eased towards finish
pressing leader when bumped 1st, prominent, led after 5th, headed approaching 2 out where mistake, soon weakened
took keen hold, led 2nd, headed after 5th, hampered 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, mistake next, weakened after 3 out
pulled hard, held up in rear, headway on outside approaching 5th, challenged 3 out, close 3rd when fell 2 out
mid-division, jumped slowly 2nd and 3rd, soon lost place
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
in rear, jumped right and mistake 1st, continued to jump right and moderately, always behind, tailed off
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway 5th, every chance when blundered 2 out, lost 2nd when mistake last, no extra
HENRY KING is selected to land the last, with Bellvano and Black Jack Blues both very interesting opponents. The selection beat the useful Pepe Simo in a bumper here at this meeting last year, when there was some cut in the ground. Although out of his depth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, he made a nice reappearance behind that same opponent in a Wincanton novices' hurdle that Pepe Simo was always likely to be better prepared for. Given that the Paul Nicholls-trained runner has recorded two further victories, that augurs well for the chances of Henry King here. Vic Dartnall's runners are in decent form and he can win again. Bellvano will be popular given connections and pilot, and while we give him plenty of respect, both his wins have been on better ground and he does have a bit of temperament, so we will take him on. Black Jack Blues was good enough to defy a penalty and claim a second bumper, meaning that the Rebecca Curtis inmate may be capable of doing better in this sphere. He too has to prove himself on the ground, although pedigree suggests he should handle it. Prince Buster has spent a long time off the track after one promising run at Ayr, and so fitness may well be an issue, while Tocca Ferro would be interesting if supported and showed some ability when taking a soft ground Wincanton bumper in the spring. For today, however, we'll side with Henry King.
Also Jo 100-1 (10-7) Led, headed 2 out, ridden and weakened approaching last, 5th of 10, 40l behind King Fontaine (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Badger Foot (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Held up well in rear, ridden and struggling after 2 out, never on terms, tailed off, 6th of 7, 32l behind Aegean Dawn (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs.
Bellvano (GER) 8-11fav (11-6) Held up in rear, smooth headway 4f out, soon challenging, led on bit inside final 3f, came well clear, edged left final furlong, won at Newbury 2m NH flat (5) gd in Feb beating Tail Of The Bank (10-13) by 7l, 11 ran.
Black Jack Blues (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Made all, ridden over 1f out, kept on, won at Hereford 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Apr beating That'll Do (10-12) by 2l, 12 ran.
Cedar Falls (USA) Giant's Causeway colt out of J D Flowers.
Cois Farraig 7-2 (11-7) Rcd 3rd, prog from 5out, went on 3out, alw in charge, won at Monksgrange 3m ire ptp in Mar beating Teenage Kicks (11-7) by 5l, 5 ran.
Extreme Conviction (IRE) 22-1 (11-2) Raced keenly, soon in touch, challenging 4f out, slightly outpaced 3f out, rallied 2f out, led over 1f out, driven out, won at Stratford 2m NH flat (5) gf in Mar beating Daaloob (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Henry King (IRE) 13-8fav (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway 3 out, hit next, every chance last, no extra, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Pepe Simo (10-12) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Island Jim (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, stayed on same pace final 2f, 3rd of 13, 8l behind Nodforms Violet (11-0) at Ascot 2m NH flat (4) gd in Oct.
Prince Buster (FR) (9-10) 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Pesoto (9-10) at Argentan(FR) 1m 4f stk gd in Apr '07 (flat).
Queenstown Lad Double Trigger gelding out of Four-legged Friend.
Shannon Bob (IRE) 80-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, some headway approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 11th of 15, well behind Dot's Delight (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) gs.
Tocca Ferro (FR) 3-1 (10-7) Towards rear, headway from over 3f out, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, driven out, won at Wincanton 2m mdn NH flat (5) sft in Mar beating Chesil Beach Boy (10-11) by 1l, 15 ran.
Running Upthathill (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Always towards rear, 12th of 13, well behind Horsford (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gs.
Eastern Paramour (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, good headway before 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, 6th of 12, 10l behind Pepe Simo (11-4) at Wincanton 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gs.
