held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, jumped left and blundered 2 out, weakened approaching last
led to 3rd, led again 6th, headed 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden approaching next, headed last, one pace
held up in rear, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, slightly hampered 2 out, led last, kept on well
with leader, led 3rd, headed approaching 6th, weakened from 2 out
The Rocking Dock got no further than the second fence on his chasing debut at Market Rasen recently and reverts back to hurdles off a mark 7lbs higher than when a narrow winner at Aintree the time before so he looks worth taking on and preference is for Jazz Dance, with Sheshali rated the pick of the remainder. The selection was a comfortable winner over course and distance in May, was not disgraced off today's mark at Stratford last month and Charlie Mann's gelding is taken to resume winning ways here. Kevin Morgan's Colophony ran better when last seen over hurdles in November and comes here fit from the flat so has to be considered, while Twist Bookie has disappointed in recent starts over hurdles and may be best watched. Sheshali is relatively lightly raced and has to be respected on his first start for Evan Williams but a better bet looks to be Jazz Dance, who gets the vote.
Jazz Dance (IRE) 7-2fav (11-6) Held up, not fluent 5th, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, mistake last, carried right flat, one pace, 5th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Iffy (11-2) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Jun.
The Rocking Dock (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) Tracked leader until fell at the 2nd in race won by See The View (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft, 9 ran.
Sheshali (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden in moderate 4th 3 out, no impression from next, 5th of 11, 23l behind Won In The Dark (10-7) at Cork 2m 3yo hdl gd in Nov.
Twist Bookie (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Mid-division until weakened 3 out, 12th of 14, 34l behind Viper (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Colophony (USA) 33-1 (10-12) Pulled hard in rear, headway 4 out, kept on approaching last, never troubled leaders, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Esprit de Corps (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Elaala (USA) 25-1 (10-2) Held up, ridden and weakened 3 out, 9th of 11, 42l behind Wizard of Us (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Jun.
Hugs Destiny (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden to chase leader approaching 9th, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 45l behind Litron (11-8) at Cartmel 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Jul '07.
