tracked leader, raced keenly, not fluent 1st, hung right approaching 4th, led next, fell 6th
chased leaders, hampered 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
jumped hesitantly throughout, behind 7th, tried to close 9th, soon no chance
held up, hampered 5th, always in rear, tailed off
took keen hold, prominent, wandered approaching 2nd, hampered before 4th, hampered 6th, led after 8th, hung right before headed 3 out, beaten 2 out
mid-division, slightly hampered when stumbled and unseated rider 2nd
in touch, pushed along when not fluent 6th, lost place after 7th, soon in rear, tailed off
held up towards rear, raced keenly, weakened 9th, tailed off
held up towards rear, mistake 7th, headway 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, went poor 3rd soon after
mid-division, took keen hold, headway 6th, led 8th, soon headed, not fluent 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
led to 5th, left in lead next, headed 8th, weakened after next
sweating, held up, raced keenly, hampered 6th, headway next, went 2nd after 9th, led and saddle slipped back 3 out, clear when hung left after 2 out, stayed on well
Alanna Castle, the winner of a bumper at Exeter in May, made an encouraging start to his hurdling career when chasing home Sweet Seville at Worcester last month and the Evan Williams-trained gelding has solid claims but marginal preference is for HIGH GALES, who gets the vote with Anfield Road rated the best of the rest. The selection has yet to race over timber but James Lambe's gelding has shown a decent level of form in bumpers, winning at Fontwell and twice being placed at the same venue. He needs only to reproduce a similar standard over timber to open his account here. War Party showed some ability on the flat and could be of interest on his debut over timber for Dr Newland. Checked Shirt has shown winning form between the flags but has yet to translate a similar level of ability under rules so looks best watched, while Sue Smith's Douglas Julian needs to step up on his debut effort to trouble the judge. David Gandolfo's Anfield Road is capable on the level and ran much better over hurdles when a close third behind Tasheba at Cheltenham last time so he has to be considered but High Gales has solid claims on bumper form and he is the selection in the hope that he can translate that ability to hurdles.
Alanna Castle (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Jumped left, led 3rd, hit 7th, headed approaching last, weakened flat, 2nd of 13, 7l behind Sweet Seville (10-7) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Jun.
Checked Shirt 3-1 (12-0) Hdwy 15; ev ch nxt; one pce, 4th of 8, 8l behind Go North (12-0) at Ampton 3m ptp in Jan.
Douglas Julian 9-1 (10-10) In touch, weakened 6th, 5th of 10, 48l behind Shut The Bar (10-10) at Bangor 2m 1f NH mdn hdl (4) gs in May.
Glacier Express (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Mid div, wknd 4out, rr & pu 2out, in a race won by Cool Warrior (12-0) at Ballingarry 3m ire ptp in May, 16 ran.
High Gales (IRE) 2-1fav (11-11) Led, edging right when headed over 1f out, swerved badly right entering final furlong, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind There's No Panic (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Karinga Magic 33-1 (9-10) Mid-division, headway to join leader 4th until 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Hareem (10-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun, 12 ran.
Quatuor Collonges (FR) 200-1 (10-12) Prominent, raced keenly, ridden 5th, weakened after 7th, tailed off, 10th of 14, well behind Billie Magern (10-7) at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Rockman 200-1 (10-9) Held up, keen, weakened after 5th, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Distiller (11-3) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jul '08.
War Party 15-2 (10-0) Led until 12f out, stayed close up until ridden and weakened over 3f out, eased final 2f, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Alanbrooke (8-13) at Sandown 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd (flat).
Anfield Road 66-1 (11-0) Held up, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on after 2 out, went 3rd last, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Tasheba (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Montevetro 80-1 (10-7) Led, hit 8th, hit and headed next, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 11, 34l behind Always Bold (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Secret Dancer (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Held up, never on terms, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by The Gossmoor Yank (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar, 9 ran.
