mid-division, headway 5th, driven 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, chased winner after 3 out, no impression 2 out, stayed on flat
chased leaders, hit 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, mistake 4th, effort 6th, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent, some headway approaching 2 out, never on terms
tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, led after 3 out, clear 2 out, ridden out, always holding on
held up in rear, mistake 3 out, headway after, nudged into 8 lenghts 3rd 2 out, reminder between last 2, mistake last, ran on flat, not reach front pair
mid-division, headway 6th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
led, mistake 3 out, soon headed, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
towards rear, ridden approaching 6th, mistake 3 out, tailed off
PAINT THE CLOUDS is a confident selection. This looks a good bit of placing by trainer Warren Greatrex and this 120-rated gelding ran some good races last season, including a solid third in a competitive Cheltenham hurdle in April. Newcomer Pilgreen is related to several winners across the channel and is respected, especially if the market agrees, whilst Sablazo can improve on a Worcester debut and the yard won this with Michael Flips in 2008. Grazeon Gold Blend is a better flat horse than Mister Fantastic and with a promising second over hurdles at Newcastle under his belt he looks the more eminent threat. Of the rest Beside the Fire and Citrus Mark should improve on their hurdling debuts, whilst Bahr Nothing started off life in the big Doncaster bumper and although he seemed to regress on his next start at Hereford he is not totally discounted on his hurdling bow.
Bahr Nothing (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Held up behind, headway and in touch halfway, driven to chase leaders over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 5th of 9, 50l behind Scoter Fontaine (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Apr.
Beside The Fire 12-1 (10-12) In touch, struggling soon after 4 out, kept on one pace flat, no chance, 4th of 11, 22l behind William Hogarth (11-5) at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Citrus Mark 11-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged after 4 out, ridden next, lost place before 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 33l behind Dark Ranger (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Irish Joe (USA) 16-1 (9-0) Always rear division, 9th of 12, 22l behind Smalljohn (9-5) at Thirsk 7f 2yo clm (4) gs in Aug '08 (flat).
Mister Fantastic 7-2 (9-0) Chased leader, ridden approaching 2f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 5l behind Embra (8-11) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-52 (6) pol (flat).
Paint The Clouds 25-1 (10-8) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway 7th, chased winner approaching last, no impression when demoted to 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Quartz De Thaix (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Pilgreen (FR) Green Tune gelding out of Galinetta.
Sablazo (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, took keen hold, weakened after 5th, tailed off, 6th of 10, 50l behind Owen Glendower (10-12) at Worcester 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs.
Sir Mark (IRE) 80-1 (10-7) Held up, weakened 4 out, 10th of 12, well behind Hold Fast (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Tocatchaprince (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, tailed off from 6th, 7th of 10, well behind Beaubrav (10-9) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf.
Grazeon Gold Blend 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching last, kept on well, just held near finish, 2nd of 16, hd behind King In Waiting (11-0) at Newcastle 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct '09.
Sunnyhill Gal 14-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway on outside over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 12, 20l behind Ben Cee Pee M (11-2) at Towcester 2m mdn NH flat (5) gf in May.
