held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, jumped right 5th, headway 6th, went 2nd 7th until 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, chased winner when not fluent 3 out, weakening and 4th when went left 2 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, moved closer before 7th, chased winner approaching 2 out, stayed on flat
chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, went prominent 7th, not fluent 8th, weakening when mistake 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
always behind
with leaders, lost place approaching 7th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always prominent, led approaching 7th, clear approaching 2 out, ridden out
mid-division, ridden after 7th, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, stayed on well flat
in touch, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, reminders and lost place approach approaching 5th, behind next, tailed of when pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, never nearer
held up and behind, mistake 1st, mistake 6th, hung left after next, always in rear
always towards rear, tailed of when pulled up before 2 out
held up and behind, headway 7th, not fluent 8th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out
led until before 7th, weakened 8th, mistake 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway after 5th, weakening when mistake 7th, mistake 3 out, soon pulled up
Nonrunner
Kilbeggan Blade, Menelaus, Top Ram and Push The Port form the shortlist in a competitive handicap hurdle and the vote goes to Kilbeggan Blade. The selection has his optimum ground conditions today and he can make it count because there is little doubt that he has the form to win this. He has gone well fresh in the past, so his absence from the track should not be a problem and he is a confident bet. Menelaus has been in good form of late, but that has been on fast ground and these conditions are not ideal. Top Ram will love the ground but he has not been seen on the racecourse for a year and he is surely going to be better for this outing. Push The Port has shown his best form on a faster surface and he is another that may be sharper for this run. A tricky race but there is plenty to like about Kilbeggan Blade who gets the vote.
Chaim (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, every chance 2 out, held when badly hampered last, weakened and eased flat, 5th of 14, 19l behind Wizard of Us (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gs in Mar.
Top Ram (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) In touch, driven to challenge between last 2, stayed on same pace, 4th of 10, 7l behind Sobers (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov '06.
Palm Island (FR) 7-2 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 15, 29l behind The Luder (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar '06.
Kilbeggan Blade 13-2 (11-9) Chased leaders to 11th, lost touch 14th, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Classified (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Apr.
Henri Prends Garde (FR) 40-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, tailed off from 4 out, last of 12, well behind Celticello (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jul.
Glen Omen (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Held up, headway after 8th, hard ridden to lead after 2 out, headed before blundering last, not recover, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Ikemba (9-9) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Opal Ridge 40-1 (10-7) Mid-division, lost place 5th, in touch, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 16, well behind Nakai (11-0) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Menelaus 8-1 (10-8) Led until 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after penultimate, 5th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Jackie Boy (10-3) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Push The Port (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) In touch, ridden and lost place 9th, kept on under pressure from 3 out, held flat, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Not For Diamonds (11-11) at Plumpton 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in May.
Petroupetrov (FR) 20-1 (10-11) Held up, headway 7th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 33l behind Ashwell (11-2) at Towcester 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in May.
Lord Nellsson 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division of main group, pushed along after 7th, behind next, 11th of 12, 27l behind Fakima (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf.
Ruling Reef 7-2jt-fav (9-13) Mid-division, ridden approaching 7th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 32l behind Xila Fontenailles (10-3) at Warwick 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Hello Bud (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Never a factor, 11th of 25, 30l behind Wing Of Fire (11-10) at Navan 3m hcp chs 0-109 gf in May.
Spendent Spree 25-1 (10-5) In touch, not fluent 2nd, ridden 6th, weakened next, 6th of 12, 14l behind Just Beware (10-3) at Lingfield 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gf.
Act Gold (GER) 14-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 11, 19l behind Nelson's Spice (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Bowdlane Barb 9-2 (10-7) In touch, pushed along after 5th, chased leader 4 out, led before next, ridden and joined 2 out, driven and headed near finish, 2nd of 11, hd behind Formal Cliche (10-1) at Huntingdon 2m 5f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Mar.
Midnight Spirit 100-1 (10-11) Led until 3rd, ridden after 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Alexander Exchange (11-0) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Sept '06.
Heavy Weather (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, mistakes 6th and 10th, went 2nd 4 out, every chance 3 out, ridden when hampered 2 out, weakened last, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Magnetic Pole (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
