chased leading pair, led soon after 3 out, driven, mistake and headed 2 out, soon lost 2nd, beaten when hit last
not jump well, always rear division
in touch, headway to chase leaders 3 out, driven and no impression 2 out, went moderate 3rd at last
led, hit 3rd, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened next
always towards rear, hit 4 out, tailed off when hit 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders when hit 4 out, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, driven between last 2, stayed on well run-in
not jump well, always towards rear, struggling 3 out, hit next, tailed off
took keen hold, always behind, ridden and struggling before 3 out, tailed off
pressed leader until 3 out, weakened before next
held up in mid-division, driven after 2 out, staying on to dispute well held 3rd when fell last
mistake 4th, always rear division
held up towards rear, steady headway until mid-division 4 out, chased leaders before next, chased winner, going well enough from 2 out, ridden and jumped right last, no impression run-in
American Trilogy looked a decent recruit to the hurdling ranks when making a winning debut for Paul Nicholls at Aintree last month but his subsequent defeat at Cheltenham suggests that he may be worth taking on here with COCKNEY TRUCKER, who gets the vote with Peppertree Lane rated the pick of the remainder.The selection showed decent form in bumpers last season, making a winning debut at Sandown prior to finishing a highly creditable eighth in the Champion Bumper at the festival. The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding lost no caste in defeat behind Dee Ee Williams on his hurdling debut on a return visit to Cheltenham last month, a run that is sure to bring him on, and he is taken to open his account over timber today before going on to better things. Unfurled is held by Cockney Trucker on running at Cheltenham and of more interest may be Andy Turnell's Moves Goodenough, although he may struggle under his penalty. Alan King's Norman The Great has more to do than when winning at Leicester and a bigger threat is likely to come from hurdling newcomer Peppertree Lane, who had some decent form on the flat and makes a belated hurdling debut at the age of five for Peter Bowen. This is potentially a decent race and preference in it is for Cockney Trucker.
American Trilogy (IRE) 5-4fav (11-7) Chased clear winner, closed 5th, every chance after 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace from last, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Golan Way (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft.
Moves Goodenough 10-3 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, led last, readily drew clear flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m hdl (3) gs beating Call Me A Legend (10-7) by 7l, 8 ran.
Norman The Great 9-4 (10-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, led after 3 out, edged left flat, ran on well, won at Leicester 2m nov hdl (4) gd beating Pterodactyl (10-12) by 6l, 16 ran.
Benfleet Boy 40-1 (9-11) Close up on outside, ridden to lead over 2f out, no extra when headed inside final furlong, stayed on one pace, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Blazing Bailey (9-8) at Newbury 1m 4f ldy rds hcp (5) sft in Oct (Flat).
Brave Quest (IRE) 12-1 (9-9) Soon led, headed halfway, lost place over 3f out, 11th of 13, 23l behind Hadron Collider (9-1) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jul (Flat).
Cockney Trucker (IRE) 5-2fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway approaching 3 out, pressing front pair approaching last, ran on flat, 3rd of 13, 3/4l behind Dee Ee Williams (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Gremlin 12-1 (9-6) Tracked leader, ridden to challenge when slightly hampered 2f out, one pace after, 6th of 16, 9l behind Higgy's Boy (9-6) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sept (Flat).
Lord Oroko 11-1 (8-9) Held up in mid-division, headway over 3f out, chased leaders 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Double Banded (9-0) at Newmarket 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Nov '07 (Flat).
Peppertree Lane (IRE) (9-6) Tracked leader, effort 2f out, no extra, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Valdino (8-11) at Dortmund 1m 6f Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct (Flat).
Roulez Cool (10-1) 2nd of 8, 6l behind Lucky Du Berlais (10-1) at Auteuil 2m 4f chs in Apr '07.
Spanish Cruise (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden and steady headway after 5th, blundered 2 out, went 4th last, never troubled leaders, 4th of 11, well behind Mahonia (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (3) gs.
Unfurled (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, ridden and kept on, pressed winner from last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 15, 1l behind Secret Tune (11-0) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gs.
