held up in rear, not clear run after 3 out, ran on from 2 out, went 3rd before last, not trouble front pair
led, 4 lengths clear before last, driven flat, headed close home
raced keenly, tracked leaders, ridden and beaten 2 out, weakened before last
in touch in mid-division on inside, not fluent 9th, closed next, beaten 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, not clear run after 3 out, headway when not clear run on inside before 2 out, went 2nd from after 2 out and soon switched right, stayed on flat, led close home
mid-division, effort 3 out, ridden and beaten next
tracked leaders, mistake 3 out, soon ridden and lost place
mid-division, raced keenly, some headway before 2 out, soon no impression
with leader until before 2 out, soon lost 2nd, 4th and weakening before last
in rear, not fluent 8th, mistake next, well beaten 3 out
NonRunner
Racing Spirit hasn’t raced since winning over track and trip last summer and is 7lb higher on his return. But LAYERTHORPE has the more recent form over these hurdles having been beaten less than a length on his reappearance and Debra Hamer’s charge can return to winning ways with that run under his belt. Uttoxeter runner-up Ulysses has just the one victory in 22 outings over timber while several went close last time still looking for their first wins including Bomber's Moon, Just Once and Leading Knight
Steel Wave (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, went narrow 2nd from 15th, no impression on winner 3 out, mistake 2 out, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 8, 9 1/4l behind Brotherly Company (11-6) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Layerthorpe (IRE) 18-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, soon hung left, headed towards finish, 3rd and held close home, 3rd of 14, 3/4l behind Lemon T (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gd in May.
Leading Knight (IRE) 6-4 (11-3) Bit keen, tracked leading pair, 2nd after 3 out, ridden and stayed on run-in, always held, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind I'm On Snap (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) gf in May.
Bomber's Moon 25-1 (10-1) Held up in mid-division, closed after 4th, went 2nd before 2 out, closed on winner but no impression, well held flat, 2nd of 11, 5 1/2l behind Starsky (11-7) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in May.
Just Once 17-2 (10-4) Held up in rear, headway and in touch 3 out, ready to make challenge 2 out, ridden and every chance last, kept on gamely run-in but always held closing stages, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Neetside (11-6) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Racing Spirit 15-2 (10-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd 9th, led 4 out, reached at 2 out, clear last, eased close home, won at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gd in Jul beating Big Penny (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Ulysses (GER) 28-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, chased leader after 2 out, ridden and made strong challenge after the last, just failed, 2nd of 15, hd behind First Du Charmil (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Passing Secrets 22-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, some headway when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, dist behind Raddle And Hum (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Boher Lad (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Soon towards rear, well beaten after normal 3 out, 9th of 15, 29 1/4l behind Realms Of Fire (10-4) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gd in May.
Stripe Of Honour (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Hdwy 11; wknd app 2 out, 5th of 10, 23 1/2l behind That's Me (12-0) at Chaddesley Corbett 3m mdn gd in May.
Thirtyfourstitches (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Raced keenly, awkward 1st, always in rear, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Nikki Steel (11-12) at Chepstow 2m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
