always well in rear, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway into 4th before 6th, chased leaders 3 out, weakened after next
chased leaders, led 3 out, joined and strongly pressed 2 out, narrow lead when blundered last, kept on gamely to assert flat
led to 3rd, stayed handy, regained lead approaching 6th to 3 out, weakened before next
mistake 1st, held up in rear, steady headway from 6th, chased leaders after 3 out, joined winner 2 out, still left with chance as winner hit last, unable to quicken towards finish
refused to race, took no part
prominent, chased leaders 3rd to 6th, weakened and hit 3 out, tailed off
chased leader, led 3rd to approaching 6th, weakened soon after, well behind when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, mistake 5th, mistake 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
held up in rear, steady headway on outside 6th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders, ridden approaching 6th, went 2nd briefly 3 out, weakened and hit 2 out
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, ridden approaching 6th, went 2nd 3 out, weakened and hit 2 out
held up in rear, headway 6th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, chased leaders before 2 out, every chance last, not quicken flat
mistakes, never going well in rear, tailed off when mistake 6th, soon pulled up
Chunky Lad reverts to hurdles having been well held in three starts over fences of late and Bill Turner's gelding has to be respected but a safer option looks to be SOVIET SCEPTRE, who gets the verdict ahead of Super Ross. The Evan Williams-trained gelding won well at Wetherby in this grade two starts ago and lost no caste in defeat behind Cooksgrove Lady (runs in the 2.15 race) at Hexham last time so he has to be respected. Jim Best's Green Prospect is strictly held by the selection on running over course and distance last month but is better than he showed that day so he cannot be discounted but that outing was his first for over a year so he may be best watched. Qanta de Thaix was the winner of a bumper on his only start in France but has generally disappointed since joining David Pipe, although he did run better in a maiden hurdle here last time and has to be considered dropped into this grade. It is no surprise to see Peter Bowen's Don't Be Bleu dropped into a seller having been well held in recent starts in handicaps but preference is for Soviet Sceptre. Tim Vaughan's gelding was in good form on the flat and over hurdles this time last year and showed signs that he was in similar good heart this summer as well when a close third behind Stumped over course and distance last month. He is taken to resume winning ways today.
Chunky Lad 12-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden 11th, one pace and no headway from 2 out, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Just Amazing (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f beg chase (5) gf in Jun.
Don't Be Bleu (IRE) 18-1 (10-11) Baulked 1st, mid-division, jumped slowly 2nd, ridden 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 14, 13l behind Runaround Sue (10-6) at Hereford 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Super Ross (IRE) 7-4fav (11-9) Led until before last, not pace to challenge winner, 2nd of 13, 18l behind Cooksgrove Lady (10-0) at Hexham 2m 4f sell (5) gd in Jun.
Green Prospect (FR) 5-1fav (11-5) Chased leaders until weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Stumped (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f sell hdl (5) gd in Jun, 16 ran.
Soviet Sceptre (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Held up behind, not fluent 1st, smooth headway 6th, effort approaching 2 out, edged right and kept on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 16, 7l behind Stumped (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f sell hdl (5) gd in Jun.
Cash On (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 10th of 16, well behind Stumped (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f sell hdl (5) gd in Jun.
Cottonwood Falls (USA) 4-1 (12-0) Led 4; rn out nxt, in a race won by Royal Crystal (11-7) at Kingston Blount 2m 5f ptp gd in Jun, 10 ran.
Hitaaf (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Close 4th when stumbled and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Stumped (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f sell hdl (5) gd in Jun, 16 ran.
Optingforstyle (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) last of 17, well behind Road Train Bob (11-0) at Cork 2m N H flat gf in Jun '08.
Qanta de Thaix (FR) 10-3 (11-0) Chased leaders, led 2 out, ridden and headed last, held final 70 yards, 2nd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Psychological (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Shan The Man (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Towards rear, weakened approaching 4 out, 6th of 13, 21l behind What's Up Doc (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m Conditional Selling Hurdle (4-8yo) (5) gd in Jun.
Something Inside (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Led, not fluent 5th, headed after 8th, beaten next, 6th of 13, 35l behind Ring For Time (11-2) at Stratford 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jun.
Top Trees 13-2 (11-10) Held up early, headway from 4th, tracking leaders when hit 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, virtually fell 2 out, 9th of 12, 34l behind Hareem (10-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
Panceltica 200-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, lost place over 6f out, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Aureate (11-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f am sell stks (6) pol in Jun (flat).
Honour's Dream (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Prominent, ridden approaching 6th, weakened before next, 10th of 14, 39l behind Bathwick Man (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jun.
