in rear, behind 3rd, tailed off after 5th, pulled up before 3 out
pulled hard, led 1st, clear after next, jumped right 4th and next, headed 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up, headway 5th, chased winner after next until mistake 3 out, weakened next, not fluent last
in rear, struggling from 6th
held up towards rear, took keen hold, hit 2nd, pulled up before next, dismounted
chased leader after 1st until 5th, weakened after next
in touch, not fluent 2nd, chased winner 3 out, mistake next, no impression, mistake last
chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, led next, ridden after 2 out, soon clear, pushed out flat
CALZAGHE is the highest rated in this selling hurdle and after some good efforts on the level he should take plenty of beating with Letham Island and Rathrockscourt looking the pick of the rest. The selection has been on fine form over timber taking four of his last six starts in this sphere. He was a course and distance winner at this level when recording the most recent of those and with the champion up he looks to be the stand-out. Letham Island isn't weighted out of a challenge and was resolute in victory last time. That came over course and distance and with this race of a similar standard she should be considered a major protagonist. Rathrockscourst should benefit for a return to a firmer surface and is in with a chance on the pick of last season's efforts while Seaquel was a winner on his last run but will have to improve to figure in this company. A case can be made for a few of these but none as strong as the one made for Calzaghe.
Dobravany (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Always towards rear, 8th of 10, 30l behind More Like It (11-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Apr.
Border Fox 50-1 (10-6) Raced keenly, led 1st, clear to 5th, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 18, 28l behind Vecchio Senso (10-10) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Feb.
Calzaghe (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Held up in last trio, headway on long run to 3 out, went modest 2nd on inside briefly soon after 3 out, well held 3rd when blundered 2 out, weakened soon after, 4th of 7, 13l behind Lord Singer (11-5) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Mar.
Celtic Warrior (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) 9th of 13, well behind Annagh Lady (11-2) at Tralee 2m beg chs sft in Oct '08.
Rathrockscourt (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) In rear, lost touch approaching 4th, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Freddy's Star (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar, 7 ran.
Sonic Anthem (USA) 7-4fav (10-9) Led from 5th, headed next, every chance when blundered 2 out, not recover, 3rd of 8, 16l behind Killowenabbey (10-5) at Bangor 2m 1f sell hdl (5) gs in Apr.
Seaquel 9-4fav (9-12) Made all, jumped left 3rd, jumped left and hit 3 out, ridden clear next, unchallenged, won at Towcester 2m nov sell hdl (5) gf in May beating Bari Bay (9-10) by 8l, 11 ran.
Letham Island (IRE) 5-1 (10-2) Tracked leader, ridden after 6th, led after 2 out, soon clear, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 2m cond sll hdl (5) gd in May beating Tora Petcha (10-12) by 19l, 6 ran.
Marsool 5-1 (10-1) Led on outer, headed 6th, weakened from 2 out, 7th of 8, 23l behind Benmadigan (10-9) at Kelso 2m 2f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gf in May.