mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression
held up, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, hit 2 out, went 2nd briefly approaching last, no extra flat
chased leader, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, rallied 2 out, ran on approaching last, led close home
led and soon clear, hit 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
always behind, no impression
in touch, headway after 5th, blundered 6th, rallied after 3 out, kept on one pace
in touch, hit 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out
towards rear, good headway after 6th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, steadied last, headed close home
Wise Owl has never been one to rely on in a finish and Mizen Raven can land this prize with Jazz Scene respected. Alison Thorpe's gelding has shown gradual improvement in his four starts over hurdles and gained a deserved success when battling on well to repel the challenge of Speed Up at Perth. On that evidence, this longer trip on this sharp track looks in order and he's been allotted a fair mark for his first venture into handicap company. Wise Owl is capable but doesn't find as much as he promises and Jazz Scene appeals as a likelier threat to the selection. He ran well at Worcester last time and merits respect on that evidence. Thunder Rock has looked out of sorts of late and Viper will do well to strike from his revised mark. The selection should prove fully capable of scoring from his initial rating though and Mizen Raven makes plenty of appeal.
Wise Owl 7-2 (11-0) Close up, went 3rd 7th, led briefly soon after 2 out, soon ridden, not pace of winner, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Panjo Bere (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) gd in Jun.
Thunder Rock (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Prominent, not fluent 1st, 2nd and 6th, ridden to lead after 3 out, headed before next, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 9l behind Bureaucrat (11-11) at N Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in May.
Jazz Scene (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, lost place after 7f, kept on from 2 out, never nearer, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Nanga Parbat (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Jun.
Viper 10-1 (11-0) Made all, soon clear, ridden approaching last, held on under pressure flat, won at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun beating Cortinas (11-12) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Mizen Raven (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, close up, ridden 2 out, headway to lead approaching last, all out, won at Perth 2m nov hdl (4) gd beating Speed Up (10-12) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Aldiruos (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Always in rear, 7th of 11, well behind Nanga Parbat (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Jun.
Dearson (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 7, 7l behind Picacho (10-8) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Apr '07.
Eljay's Boy 7-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, ridden and struggling after 8th, 5th of 8, 17l behind Lord Jay Jay (11-7) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jun.
Arisea (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway after 5th, led after 3 out, not fluent last, soon ridden and headed, no extra, 2nd of 13, nk behind Shanahan (11-5) at N Abbot 2m 3f sll hdl (5) gd.
