made all, ran on flat, driven out
prominent, lost place after 2nd, mistake next, well behind when jinked right 5th, soon pulled up
held up in rear, headway after 4th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
prominent, mistakes, lost 2nd and no extra approaching 2 out
in touch on outside, lost place and jumped slowly 2nd, soon given reminders and rallied, weakened 5th, tailed off
tracked leaders, not clear run on inside after 3 out, chasing winner when mistake 2 out, soon switched right, stayed on flat, edged right when held towards finish
slowly away, took keen hold way behind others, caught up when mistake 3rd, soon lost touch again, pulled up after 5th
held up, took keen hold, saddle soon slipped, headway 6th, 4th and ridden when lost pad well before 2 out, went well held 3rd last
Peter Bowen's Rio Gael did not beat a great deal when landing a selling hurdle in admittedly convincing fashion at Uttoxeter last month and was not surprisingly found wanting when stepped into a handicap at Newton Abbot subsequently but he has to be considered in this novices' hurdle although more solid claims receiving weight are for CRYSTAL ROCK, who gets the vote. Nicky Henderson's gelding is lightly raced over hurdles and has not been seen since January when well held behind Gifted Leader but he may be worth another chance having shown some decent form on the flat and he might prove to be good enough. Rafta had his problems on the flat when refusing to race and showed a better attitude at Uttoxeter last time but he cannot be backed with any confidence, while Tara Warrior looked moderate in Ireland but cannot be ruled out first time for Tim Vaughan.
Rio Gael (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) Keen early, jumped left and mistake 1st, held up in touch, not fluent 3rd, effort to chase leaders 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from next, 6th of 8, 21l behind Dereks (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Bluebird Chariot 200-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, weakened after next, no chance when stumbled and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Players Please (11-10) at Worcester 2m nov clm hdl (5) gf in Jun, 13 ran.
Bolanderi (USA) 9-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Barrel Of Fun (11-1) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Crystal Rock (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 14, 36l behind Gifted Leader (11-4) at Southwell 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Pedasus (USA) 14-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, switched left well over 1f out, no impression, 8th of 10, 22l behind Avitus (9-7) at Pontefract 1m 2f mdn hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jul (flat).
Tara Warrior (IRE) 4-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 6 out, soon ridden, 5th 3 out, no impression from next, 5th of 16, 16l behind Schumpters Lad (11-1) at Wexford 2m 4f mdn hdl gd in Jun.
Trading Nation (USA) 66-1 (9-10) In touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 10l behind Blackdown Boy (9-0) at Windsor 6f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gf in Jun (flat).
Rafta (IRE) 40-1 (10-8) Prominent, every chance 3 out, no impression on winner from next, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Riverscape (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
