HANSARD won a bumper in Ireland and has won twice over hurdles for current connections. He is being aimed at the Greatwood at Cheltenham later this month but makes his Flat debut in modest company and will be hard to beat, despite returning from a break. The three-year-old Luna Effect was just beaten stepped up in trip at Yarmouth but has a further quarter-mile to cover here. Night Stalker is a full brother to a four-times winner on the Flat but he may need today’s experience.
Hansard (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway before 3 out, disputing 2nd before last, edged right flat, lost 3rd towards finish, kept on, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Inthepocket (11-7) at Aintree 2m (1) gs in Apr.
Hardy Bloke (FR) 11-4fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, slow 1st and 2nd, 2nd halfway, mistake 6 out, pushed along entering straight, challenged before 2 out, ridden in 2nd after 2 out, no impression when mistake and unseated rider last, at Wexford 3m 1f hcp Yielding in May.
Renoir 33-1 (10-0) Led, ridden over 3f out, soon pressed for lead, headed 2f out, lost touch with leading duo entering final furlong, weakened further inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 9 1/4l behind Harappan (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f stks (5) pol in Aug.
Femme Patronne (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Led, headed 9f out, ridden over 3f out, edged left and beaten over 1f out, weakened into 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 9l behind Now Then Wendy (9-5) at Southwell 1m 4f stks (5) pol in Jan.
Mazaminsky 300-1 (9-0) Well enough away, soon steadied rear, never on terms, tailed off, last of 11, dist behind Uncle Bryn (9-5) at Kempton 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Sep.
A Poet's Secret 18-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd over 8f out, pushed along over 3f out, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, lost 2nd inside final furlong, plugged on, 5th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Sir Terence Hadley (9-5) at Southwell 1m 3f mdn stks (5) pol in Sep.
Luna Effect (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride and switched left start, held up in rear, headway far side of group chasing leaders over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed final strides, 2nd of 9, hd behind Coco Royale (9-6) at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Night Stalker Sixties Icon gelding out of Shadows Ofthenight.
Sixfiveseven (9-2) 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind O'ssitot (8-11) at Cholet 1m 1f mdn stks gs in Nov.
