mid-division, headway 6th, led 3 out, clear before last, very easily
held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, headway when not fluent 3 out, ridden and no impression next
tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, plugged on and went 3rd flat, no chance with front pair
held up in rear, some headway after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, no impression on winner before last, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st or 2nd, 3rd and one pace when slightly wide on home turn, well held when not fluent last, lost 3rd flat
took keen hold, led until headed after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, ridden after 3 out, well held 2 out, stayed on to take 4th flat, no impression
A chance is taken BRAVE RICHARD takes to hurdling. He landed a hat trick of bumper wins earlier this year and the presence in the saddle of Richard Johnson takes the eye on his debut over timber. Aqua Dude is another bumper winner who could get involved while How's Vienna and Kerisper have both won point to points but the latter was pulled up on his hurdling bow in September. The remainder are harder to fancy unless At The Top shows a big improvement over hurdles having been well beaten in a bumper at the start of the year.
Aqua Dude (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out, 9th of 10, 13 1/4l behind Wait For Me (11-3) at Ascot 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Brave Richard (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace approaching final furlong, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Waterlord (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m (6) gd in Jul.
Daulys Anthem (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, behind next, pulled up before 7th, at Stratford 2m 6f mdn (5) sft in Oct.
How's Vienna (IRE) 5-2 (10-7) Lft 2nd 3; qcknd to ld flat; rdly, won at Bitterley 2m 4f mdn in Apr beating Festival Folklore (11-7) by 2l, 9 ran.
Kerisper (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Chased winner until 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Perth 3m (4) gs in Sep.
King Simba (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 4th, weakened 3f out, last of 11, dist behind Brave Richard (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (6) gd in May.
Mr Elevator (IRE) 3-1 (12-2) Trkd ldr in 2nd, mstk 8th, ld frm 6out, chall bef 2out, jnd last, 2nd & no ex early flat & held nr fin, 2nd of 9, nk behind Next Lot (12-2) at Inchydoney 3m mdn gd in May.
At The Top (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway over 5f out, lost place over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 5th of 9, 28 1/2l behind Copper Kay (10-12) at Warwick 2m (6) sft in Jan.
