led, clear from 4th until after 4 out, headed after next, soon riden and outpaced, kept on under pressure from last, no impression
raced keenly, held up in last pair, chased leaders before 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with leaders from next
mid-division, headway after 4 out, led narrowly after next, headed 2 out, soon ridden, 2 lengths down in 2nd last, no extra in 3rd flat
mid-division, headway after 4 out, outpaced after next, kept on same pace under pressure from 2 out, never reached leaders
raced keenly, held up in 6th, smooth headway after 4 out, challenged on inside after next, led 2 out, 2 lengths clear when went left last, driven out and well in command flat
chased leader to 5th, lost place 4 out, no chance before next
held up in last pair, struggling 4 out, no chance before next
tracked leading pair, went 2nd at 5th, challenged 3 out, outpaced in 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no impression with winner
John Quinn won this with the four-year-old Countrywide Flame a year ago and attempts the double with Cockney Sparrow, who went from handicaps to landing a mares' Listed hurdle at Wetherby. Despite her allowance, she'll need massive improvement to take care of the principals, in this case the very progressive Melodic Rendezvous, already a Grade 1 winner in Sandown's Tolworth Hurdle and arriving in top form after his Listed success at Wincanton when Cotton Mill was behind, and MY TENT OR YOURS. The latter just gets the nod as he's won first time out in the past two seasons and, after a narrow defeat by Champagne Fever in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, he ended his campaign easily beating his three rivals in a Grade 2 at Aintree. Grumeti, a close third to Countrywide Flame in last year's Triumph Hurdle, then beat the winner in an Aintree Grade 1 and an absence since April shouldn't pose too much of a problem. The remainder have plenty to find.
Cotton Mill 10-3 (11-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd, driven and lost place before 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression with leading trio between last 2, 4th of 6, 8l behind Melodic Rendezvous (11-10) at Wincanton 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gs.
Duke Of Navan (IRE) 5-2 (11-3) In rear and in touch, went 3rd 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, going well when led and mistake last, soon ridden and found plenty towards finish, won at Kelso 2m 2f hdl (2) hvy in Feb beating Any Given Day (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 4 ran.
Grumeti 7-2fav (11-10) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway before last, led briefly, one pace and lost 3rd place towards finish, 4th of 8, 5l behind Court Minstrel (10-9) at Ayr 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Melodic Rendezvous 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, steady headway into 3rd after 3 out, not fluent next, went 2nd and challenged last, soon led, ridden out flat, won at Wincanton 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gs beating Far West (11-6) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
My Tent Or Yours (IRE) 4-11fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, moved into 2nd on bit before 3 out, led at hurdle, clear 2 out, very easily, won at Aintree 2m nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Apr beating Forgotten Voice (11-4) by 16l, 4 ran.
Rock Relief (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division on inside, lost place when mistake 6th, well behind 8th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by More Of That (11-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs, 9 ran.
Stormy Weather (FR) 17-2 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, stayed on to lead close home, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Oct beating Knight In Purple (11-4) by shd, 11 ran.
Cockney Sparrow 3-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, challenged next, soon led, jinked right before last, ran on well, won at Wetherby 2m mrs lst hdl (1) gs beating Prima Porta (10-12) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
