chased leaders, jumped right 2nd, driven to challenge 2 out, led flat, ran on well
tracked leader, led after 5th, headed next, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, under pressure halfway, soon beaten
behind, headway approaching 2 out, never on terms
mid-division, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, effort approaching last, kept on same pace
held up in touch, led 6th, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, headed and no extra towards finish
held up mid-division, headway 4th, soon chasing leaders, under pressure 3 out, no impression
held up in rear, mistake 6th, soon struggling and beaten
raced in rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, never able to challenge
pulled hard towards rear, headway to chase leaders before 4th, weakened after next
chased leaders, hampered 2nd, reminders after 4th, weakened approaching last
led, raced keenly, headed approaching 6th, soon under pressure and lost place
Brackloon High is a promising recruit to the hurdling ranks and is fancied to make a winning start over obstacles. He failed to justify strong market support on his racecourse bow but made no mistake the next twice and looks to have a future. The one concern is that this trip is likely to be a bare minimum for him and he could be outpaced by some of his rivals that have come from the Flat and it will be interesting to see what level of confidence there is behind Uncle Keef but he didn't look the most straightforward so it remains to be seen whether he'll take to this game. Stormy Morning, Double Banded and Mut'ab are with shrewd yards but the one to beat looks to be MANNLICHEN following a highly encouraging start to his hurdling career in a decent event at Cheltenham and he should make the most of this easier opportunity.
Brackloon High (IRE) 2-1fav (11-9) Held up, headway 5f out, led 2f out, edged right inside final furlong, driven out, won at Southwell 2m NH flat (4) std in Jan beating Oh No Not Harry (11-5) by 1l, 8 ran.
Double Banded (IRE) 14-1 (8-5) Mid-division, headway to chase leader over 3f out until approaching 2f out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 19l behind Bernie The Bolt (7-12) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp 105 (2) gf in Sep '09 (flat).
Idol Deputy (FR) 150-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, hampered 3rd, tailed off and struggling before 2 out, 11th of 14, well behind Present To You (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Josr's Magic (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Held up in touch, pushed along over 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out, never going pace to trouble leaders, 4th of 9, 5l behind Shallow Bay (9-4) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct (flat).
Mannlichen 12-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace under pressure, no impression, 4th of 9, 22l behind King Of The Night (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Midnight Opera 20-1 (10-5) Chased leader, stumbled badly 3 out, soon no chance with leading duo, hit 2 out, lost modest 3rd last stride, 4th of 8, 12l behind Nicene Creed (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gd in Oct.
Mut'ab (USA) 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division, jumped right 2nd, left 4th after 5th, ridden after 3 out, went 3rd approaching 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 10, 15l behind Beaubrav (10-9) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Oct.
Stormy Morning 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 1st, slow 2nd, under pressure when hampered and left in 3rd 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 5, well behind Comprimario (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Top Smart 25-1 (10-9) Behind, hit 4th and 5th, struggling from 6th, went poor 4th after last, never on terms, 4th of 10, 24l behind Beaubrav (10-9) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Oct.
Twilight Star (IRE) 9-4 (8-11) Hampered and swerved left start, headway to track leaders over 4f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 10l behind Anjomarba (8-9) at Lingfield 6f sell stks (6) gs in Aug (flat).
Uncle Keef (IRE) 9-4fav (9-12) Held up in rear, headway under pressure over 4f out, no impression on leaders and well beaten over 1f out, 5th of 12, 9l behind Fuzzypeg (8-7) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Aug (flat).
Kathleen Kennet 50-1 (10-0) Led, wandered 1st, headed after 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 13, 41l behind Rhum (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (4) hvy in Oct.
