held up in touch in mid-division, jumped right and bumped 1st, headway 3rd, jumped left next, closed on front pair after 5th, led before 3 out, soon headed, no impression on winner after 2 out, stayed on same pace
took keen hold, prominent, mistakes, led 4th, headed before 3 out, soon beaten, tailed off
held up towards rear, pecked 3rd, headway after 5th, mistake 3 out, weakened next
held up in rear on outside, mistakes, well beaten 5th, tailed off
tracked leaders, took keen hold, not fluent 5th, weakened before 2 out
prominent until not fluent 3rd, weakened before 5th, tailed off
held up in mid-division, reminder after 5th, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd next, stayed on flat
well behind from 5th, tailed off
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, led and pecked 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon clear, went left last, eased towards finish
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, well behind 5th, tailed off
led until 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
blundered and unseated rider 1st
It's A Doddle and Oscars Den have both displayed plenty of promise prior to hurdling debuts here and command immediate respect in light of their respective connections whilst Un Bleu A L'Aan has also indicated in a couple of bumper appearances that he too has more to offer now his attentions are switched to hurdling. Crookstown looked to idle rather in front when scoring at Perth on his hurdling debut and should improve with his racing. A progressive effort is anticipated but CHASE THE SPUD was an impressive scorer on his Huntingdon hurdling debut and is taken to improve again for his very much in-form team and defy the incurred penalty for that decisive victory.
Chase The Spud 16-1 (10-12) Led, headed approaching then hampered and left in lead 3 out, forged clear before last, easily, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Yabadabadoo (10-12) by 17l, 10 ran.
Crookstown (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led 7th, mistake next, narrowly headed when left clear last (normal 2 out), began to tie up final 100 yards, held on, won at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Jul beating Lady Gargoyle (10-7) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
After The Storm 50-1 (9-5) In touch, pushed along 4f out, ridden when weakened over 2f out, 5th of 11, 46l behind Norway Cross (9-0) at Pontefract 1m 4f mdn stks (5) hvy in Oct (flat).
Baile Atha Cliath (IRE) 11-4fav (9-4) In touch, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, kept on to go 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Frosty Friday (9-1) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-52 (6) fbs (flat).
Flemensmix 12-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 6f out, outpaced over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 8th of 9, 46l behind Diamond King (11-11) at Bangor 2m 1f cond NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Gonalston Cloud (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Prominent, lost place before 4th, mistake and struggling towards rear next, went poor 6th 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 12, well behind Carraig Mor (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
It's A Doddle (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) Ww rr, prog 5out & 5th well aftr 4out, disp bef 2out & sl adv when faster jump last, so flat, easily, won at Dromahane 3m ire ptp sft in Apr beating Pleasant Company (12-0) by 3l, 13 ran.
Ll Cool Horse 20-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, pushed along 6f out, weakened over 3f out, last of 6, 38l behind Prideofthecastle (11-9) at Stratford 2m NH flat (5) gd in May.
Oscars Den (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Very slowly away and set very slow early place, soon headed, tracked leader, ridden to lead entering final furlong, kept on well towards finish, won at Lingfield 2m n h flat (6) std in Jan beating Eastbury (11-4) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Un Bleu A L'aam (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 24l behind Harry's Farewell (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) hvy in Mar.
Veratan (FR) 33-1 (10-7) Mid-division, not jump well, well beaten 6th, never in contention, 7th of 14, 28l behind Curzon Line (10-12) at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Watts Up Son 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, reminders before 5th, weakened before 3 out, last of 12, well behind Chadford (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd in Nov '11.
Clara Peggotty 14-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, led 3f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace, no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Supreme Present (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m mares n h flat (6) gs in May '12.