held up in 4th, not fluent 4th, closed after next, outpaced 7th, not fluent next, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, pushed along 4th, reminders next, led approaching 6th, headed soon after hurdle, outpaced by winner from 3 out, weakened 2 out
in rear, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
led until approaching 6th, driven to regain lead soon after hurdle, headed 7th, mistake next, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 6th, behind from next
tracked leaders, led 7th, drew well clear approaching 2 out, eased flat, hacked over line
Nonrunner
CANNON FIRE won his last race and is well weighted to follow up that success whilst Dalaram has been consistent so far this year and there may be more to come from Elk Trail. Cannon Fire is our selection following a win over this trip at Worcester last time when beating Command Marshal by twelve lengths. The Evan Williams trained gelding ran on well that day and this was a significant improvement on previous efforts. Dalaram can provide a challenge to the pick although there are questions raised over the distance given that the gelding has run slightly better over shorter trips. He was a close finishing runner up in his past two starts and could run well again to contend. Elk Trail had back-to-back wins last year but has not progressed so well this season and we oppose Michael Mullineaux's five year old in this race. Cannon Fire should have enough to see off the competition in this handicap hurdle and we side with him here.
Welcome Stranger 50-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, weakened after 3 out, last of 11, well behind Zanir (11-5) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Elk Trail (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened flat, 4th of 12, 9l behind Crazy Bold (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Edgefour (IRE) 3-1 (10-7) Tracked winner until 4th, remained close up, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up approaching last, in a race won by Treaty Flyer (10-7) at Fakenham 2m beg chase (4) gf in May, 5 ran.
Rien A Perdre (FR) 16-1 (10-10) Led, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 11, 21l behind Stumped (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in May.
Option Money (IRE) 50-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Mini Minster (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Cannon Fire (FR) 8-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 4th, led 2 out, stayed on well to draw clear flat, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd beating Command Marshal (11-4) by 12l, 12 ran.
Dalaram (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, not fluent and lost place 5th, headway approaching 2 out, chased winner approaching last, kept on towards finish, always held, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Exulto (11-4) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
