pulled hard in rear, good headway 6th, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, not pace of winner
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
mistake 1st, towards rear, not fluent 3rd, outpaced 3 out
mid-division, headway 6th, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, readily
chased leaders, blundered 6th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, headway 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leader, led 3rd until 5th, weakened next, fell 3 out
in touch, hit 1st and 6th, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, 4th and beaten when blundered last
led until 3rd, led 5th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
hit 4th and 6th, always towards rear
mid-division under after 5th, tailed off from 3 out
Australia Day was given a quiet introduction to hurdling at Kempton but having learnt from that he should run well; however Garrulous was keeping better company than this when last seen over timber and Gary Moore's charge is fancied to oblige. Now officially rated 110, the selection was mixing it with better horses last year who have since gone on to acquit themselves well off of much higher marks and after some decent flat efforts earlier this year, he should be too classy for his rivals today. Australia Day is an obvious danger; formerly trained on the flat in Ireland, Paul Webber's gelding should feature more prominently today but stamina is not assured having been a sprinter on the flat. Chilbury Hill and Award Winning have both shown ability to date over timber so each has place claims at least, whilst at a price Lady Duxyana could belie her likely odds. A fly in the ointment could be the Paul Nicholls-trained newcomer Simondium, a recruit from William Haggas who looks sure to do well over hurdles, however it is Garrulous who receives the vote.
Australia Day (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Pulled hard early, hit 2nd, steady headway from 3 out, one pace next, 5th of 17, 23l behind Zebra Crossing (10-12) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) gd.
Award Winning (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, led over 5f out, soon ridden, headed over 2f out, weakened, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Brenin Cwmtudu (10-11) at Ludlow 2m nhf (5) gf.
Chilbury Hill (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway halfway, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 13, 13l behind Hell's Bay (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nhf (6) gd.
Garrulous (UAE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 6th, challenged on bit 3 out, wandered flat, no extra, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Kick And Prance (10-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
High Tech Made (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Behind, some late headway from 2 out, never nearer, 7th of 17, 36l behind Zebra Crossing (10-12) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) gd.
Mr Joe Platinum (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Chased leader to 4th, soon lost place, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Rapid Increase (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Oct.
Raise Again (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) In rear, headway after 3 out, mistake 2 out, no impression, 5th of 11, 9l behind Magic Rush (11-0) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (3) gf in Oct.
Sagunt (GER) 9-2 (9-5) Behind, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, 11th of 13, 12l behind Fresh Mint (8-6) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-65 (6) pol (Flat).
Secret Cavern (USA) 66-1 (11-0) Towards rear, hampered 1st, blundered 2nd, behind from 3 out, 7th of 9, 42l behind Melvino (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) frm.
Simondiun 8-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, pushed along and no chance final 3f, 6th of 9, 10l behind Junior (9-2) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Jul (Flat).
Dovedale 12-1 (10-2) Prominent until after 6th, soon ridden, 3rd and held when pecked 3 out, 3rd of 6, 22l behind Counting House (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gf.
Imperial Amber 100-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 11th of 14, 40l behind Kavatcha (10-8) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn nhf (5) sft in Jan.
Lady Duxyana 100-1 (10-7) Headway 5th, went 3rd next, ridden and hung left approaching 2 out, weakened into 5th and blundered last, 6th of 12, 29l behind Ohana (10-4) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (4) gd.
