held up in rear, headway 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, steady headway after 4th, challenged 2 out, soon led, driven flat, stayed on gamely
led, reminder approaching 5th, headed after 2 out, stayed on flat
held up in mid-division, headway 6th, challenged 2 out, unable to quicken flat
mid-division, took keen hold, headway after 4th, not fluent 2 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on same pace flat
chased leaders, ridden and lost place after 3rd, behind 5th, tailed off
pulled hard in rear, mistake 6th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off
held up, 7th 2 out, never near leaders
prominent, took keen hold, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened before last
tracked leaders on outside, jumped slowly 6th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, challenged after 4th, not fluent next, every chance 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden after 4th, soon lost place, well behind 3 out, tailed off
Dream Catcher ran on well earlier in the month at Newton Abbot to win at 33/1 but he is up in the weights as a result and may find it more difficult here, whilst Alfloramoor won when last seen at the course in March but we tentatively side with POOL OF KNOWLEDGE who is at the favourable end of the handicap and comes here after winning last time. The selection can record back-to-back successes with the combination of Venetia Williams and Aidan Coleman providing a 16% strike-rate in hurdles races over the past five seasons. Alfloramoor found the trip too far for him last time and was a long way behind the victor at Huntingdon. Prior to this though, he had won at this course and is respected on this basis. Dream Catcher beat Battle Group last time out and has won a third of the hurdles contests he has participated in. Alph is also worth noting on the pick of his form with his jockey claiming 7lbs today. However we side with Pool Of Knowledge.
Cortinas (GER) 12-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, took keen hold, mistake 5th, ridden after 8th, soon weakened, hampered 4 out, 4th of 7, 29l behind Mibleu (9-10) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jun.
Alph 8-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, chased winner 5th, led 3 out, soon ridden and headed, no impression 2 out, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Wheelavit (11-8) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Jun.
Is It Me (USA) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders on outside, lost place after 2nd, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd last, no danger, 3rd of 11, 13l behind Wheelavit (11-8) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Jun.
Celticello (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Took keen hold in mid-division, headway when mistake 2 out, went 3rd before last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Tout Regulier (10-6) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Dream Catcher (SWE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, led last, ridden out, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf beating Battle Group (11-12) by 2l, 10 ran.
Mouseen (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Towards rear, ridden after 6th, pulled up before 7th, in a race won by Kristallo (10-13) at Stratford 2m 3f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gf, 12 ran.
Hi Tide (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway under pressure from 2 out, kept on flat, no chance with easy winner, 4th of 8, 22l behind Holoko Heights (10-12) at Southwell 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Royal Max (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Keen, led until 4th, chased leader, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Tiger O'toole (11-7) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in May.
Alfloramoor 11-4fav (11-7) Led, headed approaching 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, soon tailed off, last of 7, well behind Purely By Chance (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Ardistan (IRE) 17-2 (11-6) Always in rear, lost touch 5th, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Wheelavit (11-8) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Jun.
Pool Of Knowledge (FR) 9-2 (10-11) Made all, not fluent 6th, ridden after 2 out, ran on well, won at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Jun beating Carbon Print (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 13 ran.
Classic Fly (FR) 12-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, in a race won by Crazy Bold (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May, 12 ran.
