in touch, went 2nd 9th, led 3 out, drew clear 2 out
raced keenly, tracked leader, not fluent 5th or 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, blundered badly and unseated rider 7th
held up, headway 9th, ridden after 3 out, 3rd and beaten when fell last
chased leaders, reminders after 2nd, ridden after 7th, weakening when not fluent 9th
led, headed 3 out, one pace when mistake 2 out
held up in rear, mistake 6th, headway approaching 8th, weakened after next
Billie Magern has taken time to get to grips with hurdling but has been good value for his wins in his last two starts, latterly over course and distance, and he has every chance of completing a hat-trick but BULWARK is less exposed over hurdles and, in receipt of 4lbs from the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding he looks worth siding with over Danimix. Tim Vaughan's gelding is less exposed than most of these after just two starts in bumpers and he could be of interest first time up over hurdles. Peter Bowen's Mumbles Pier ran better on his first start over timber at Worcester last time than he had in three previous starts in bumpers but needs to improve again to trouble the judge, while James Lambe's Breeze Out disappointed in a competitive contest over fences at the Galway festival last time and may do better back in this grade. Preference then is for Bulwark, who was a good winner of his latest start over hurdles for Ian Williams in May and has been running well on the Flat since then.
Billie Magern 4-9fav (11-0) Chased leaders, led approaching and hit 2 out, driven clear, won at Stratford 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jul beating Fealing Real (10-12) by 21l, 7 ran.
Breeze Out 12-1 (10-8) Led and disputed, headed when mistake 5th, lost place halfway, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Paco Jack (11-2) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs 0-123, 17 ran.
Bulwark (IRE) 5-2 (10-9) Mid-division, headway after 6th, led approaching 2 out, awkward head carriage from before last, coaxed along flat, always going to hold on, won at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gd in May beating Restless Harry (11-0) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
City Heights (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway approaching 9th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 14, well behind Starlight Air (10-7) at Worcester 3m mdn hdl (5) gs in Jul.
King Rocky 16-1 (10-12) Held up, headway to go 2nd 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out, 4th of 7, 28l behind Cooksgrove Lady (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jul.
Mumbles Pier (IRE) 22-1 (10-5) Raced keenly, held up on outside, headway to join leader after 4th, led 2 out, ridden and headed flat, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind War Party (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Lapina (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 5th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 13, 29l behind Rhinestone Ruby (10-12) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Jul.
Danimix (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway over 5f out, pushed along over 3f out, never going pace to reach leaders, one pace, 5th of 16, 9l behind Line Tzigane (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gs in Jul.
