prominent, lost place 5th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
behind, headway and hit 6th, ridden when blundered badly 3 out, led last, driven out
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden next, soon weakened
led, hit 3rd, headed 6th, ridden when not fluent 3 out, kept on one pace
towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on from 2 out, never troubled leaders
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
keen, in touch, went 2nd after 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, no chance when mistake last
prominent, led 6, pushed along and 12 lengths clear when fell 2 out
mid-division, hit 5th, headway and hampered 3 out, ridden when left in lead 2 out, headed, hit last, no extra flat
Positano looks best here, with Seymour Weld, House Martin, Twist Bookie and Soviet Sceptre all worth a mention. Unusually for a selling hurdle, this appears to be quite competitive, but Michael Scudamore is a past-master at alternating his runners between fences and hurdles as the recent success of Waynesworld indicates, and a similar ploy with Positano can reap dividends. The ex-Scandinavian Flat horse has been disappointing since being sent over timber, but landed a selling handicap at Worcester with the minimum of fuss last month. Unfortunately, the grader took account and he lined up with top weight for his chase debut at Newton Abbot 17 days ago when he gave a good account but could not cope with the favourite Stoneyford Ben. It looks a Catch 22 situation for connections who probably have no alternative but to put him back over hurdles at this level, and hopefully it will pay off. Seymour Weld needed all of Worcester's 20 furlongs to score last time and may not be as effective over this shorter trip, while House Martin is dropped in grade but is another that needs further. Twist Bookie will need the outing but faces lesser opposition than normal, and Soviet Sceptre seems to have gone wrong of late, but has claims on earlier form. Positano is probably the most consistent here and gets the vote.
Positano (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Led to after 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Stoneyford Ben (11-7) at N Abbot 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Aug.
Seymour Weld 10-1 (10-9) Rear, headway 5th, led briefly approaching 3 out, outpaced next, 4 lengths down last, ran on flat to lead close home, won at Worcester 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gf in Aug beating Tiffin Deano (10-5) by a hd, 11 ran.
Twist Bookie (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Prominent, weakened after 4th, soon behind, 17th of 18, well behind Lorient Express (10-4) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
Champagne Rossini (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Led to 5th, soon weakened, beaten when unseated rider 2 out in race won by Majestic Vision (11-0) at Southwell 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Aug, 9 ran.
Snow Wolf 25-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Talcen Gwyn (9-11) at Chepstow 5f hcap (6) gd in Aug (Flat).
Soviet Sceptre (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Led, reminders 5th, hit 7th, headed before 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up at the last in race won by Ad Murum (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug, 14 ran.
Text 9-4fav (10-7) Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, ridden before next, weakened 2 out, 4th of 15, 22l behind Keep On Movin' (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (E) gf in Jun '05.
House Martin 14-1 (10-6) Mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Pearl King (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Aug.
