disputed lead to 4th, chased winner after, lost 2nd approaching 3 out, weakened soon after
tracked leading pair until mistake and weakened 9th, soon in rear, tailed off
took keen hold, tended to jump right, disputed lead, advantage 4th, hit 7th, blundered 10th, went right and joined 2 out, narrowly headed soon after, hit last, ridden and quickened flat, led final 50 yards
held up in close 5th, headway travelling well approaching 4 out, went 2nd from 3 out, challenged on inside 2 out, took narrow lead soon after, mistake last, headed and not pace of winner final 50 yards
tracked leading trio, hit 7th, went 3rd next, challenged for 2nd at 9th, blundered next, weakened 3 out, mistake next
The Barbury Castle team will be hoping to complete a short-priced double on the card here with BENSALEM, while Martys Mission, Chariot Charger and Den Of Iniquity all have points of interest. The last-named relishes getting his toe in and has had to be wrapped in cotton wool after a promising bumper career ended with injury, before the same was repeated in novices' hurdles. He has won when fresh on both times he has begun a season, and this is his first run under licensee Warren Greatrex, who could see him go very close. Martys Mission has his optimum trip and conditions and should be much straighter for his own reappearance run, so he has to be respected, while Chariot Charger was rated 136 over hurdles and loves soft ground, although he has never won when fresh and has a fair bit to find with the selection on hurdling form. That selection is Bensalem. Alan King's 150-rated hurdler was one of the leading novices' over this sort of trip last season and is sure to have been well prepared. He has faced 54 opponents in five races since coming to England and only one, Diamond Harry, has been good enough to finish ahead of him, so with the ground to suit he is a confident choice today.
Martys Mission (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Set slow pace until 3rd, disputed lead, relegated to last 3 out, weakened next, last of 4, 26l behind Kangaroo Court (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f noc chs (3) gf in Oct.
Allterrain (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 4th, dropped rear and hanging right 7th, no chance when mistake last, 7th of 10, 46l behind Bobby Ewing (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Bensalem (IRE) 4-9fav (11-8) Held up in 4th, went 2nd travelling strongly 3 out, led after 2 out, ridden clear from last, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Apr beating Our Bomber Harris (11-4) by 8l, 7 ran.
Chariot Charger (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Keen early, held up in rear, struggling after 3 out, tailed off, 12th of 17, well behind Weapon's Amnesty (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Den of Iniquity 25-1 (11-7) Led, jumped right 4th and 9th, headed after 3 out, lost action and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Weapon's Amnesty (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar, 17 ran.
