tracked leaders on inside, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
tracked leaders on outside, ridden before 2 out, went 2nd between last 2, kept on same pace, no impression with winner
held up behind in touch, struggling 6th, tailed off 2 out
prominent on outside, led 4th, headed after 3 out, ridden when mistake next, lost place between last 2, soon weakened
led, headed narrowly 4th, driven to lead again after 3 out, clear when ridden between last 2, stayed on well
prominent, blundered 6th, lost place 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened next
tracked leaders, jumped slowly and reminder 4th, struggling 6th, tailed off 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, went 3rd between last 2, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair
WORDY'S BOY won a maiden hurdle here in 2012 and was having his first start since when pulled-up at Wetherby earlier this month. He should have come on from that and gets a speculative vote in this company. Don Pooleoni has now returned a losing favourite in three of his last four starts having unseated at Warwick last time and Santo Thomas was still beaten 19 lengths when runner-up at Leicester recently. The veteran Prime Contender has had just the two starts since 2008 with a second at Towcester last May his best effort and the remainder are even harder to fancy.
Don Pooleoni (IRE) 11-4fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, jumped left, mistake and unseated rider
Santo Thomas (FR) 13-8fav (11-11) Held up, headway approaching 3rd, ridden and every chance last (normal 3 out), soon one pace, no impression on winner from over 1f out, 2nd of 7, 19l behind Scotsbrook Legend (10-0) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Wordy's Boy 25-1 (11-11) In touch on outside, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before next, in a race won by Allied Answer (11-11) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft, 12 ran.
Alizari (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 19, 27l behind Alexander Leaving (11-9) at Gowran Park 2m hcp hdl 80-102 gf in Jun.
Persian Herald 9-2 (11-9) Held up in touch, pushed along from 4th, soon under pressure, lost place next, soon behind, moderate 4th, 4th of 6, 37l behind Stow (11-2) at Fakenham 2m 4f sell hdl (5) sft.
Prime Contender 16-1 (11-6) Prominent, led 3 out, headed and weakened next, 6th of 11, 37l behind Grate Fella (11-8) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Minsky Mine (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Forced Family Fun (10-7) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs.
Tokyo Javilex (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Chased leaders early, towards rear, pushed along and headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace in 4th from last, 4th of 10, 27l behind Boss In Boots (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f cond nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Dec.
