made all, clear 2 out, stayed on well
in rear, tailed off after 6th
tracked winner until ridden and hung right approaching 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
in rear, mistake 1st, jumped slowly 2nd, mistake 6th, well behind before 3 out, fell last
prominent, mistake 1st, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 6th, not fluent 2 out, one pace last
tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden after 5th, well beaten from next, tailed off
mid-division, hit 3rd and 5th, headway approaching 3 out, not fluent 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner
mid-division, closed after 4th, ridden 3 out, soon beaten
held up towards rear, some headway after 6th, never on terms, well beaten before 3 out
BENJAMIN BITTERN won a bumper at Market Rasen in April last year and the runner-up has already scored twice over hurdles this autumn. It's no surprise that Jason Maguire has chosen him ahead of stablemate Moscow Presents and he gets the vote ahead of Un Bon P'Tit Gars, a narrow winner over C&D in May on only his second start over hurdles. Spanish Arch has already won a point-to-point and had an education in bumpers last season while the mare Buddy Love won a bumper in May, though the form hasn't worked out.
Un Bon P'tit Gars (FR) 7-4 (10-10) Led until 2nd, not fluent 5th, led approaching 3 out, headed before next, stayed challenging, led again flat, all out, won at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in May beating Irish Symphony (10-7) by nk, 10 ran.
Alfie Wills 14-1 (11-0) Held up, jumped right, some headway approaching 5th, soon weakened, tailed off when mistake 2 out, 8th of 10, well behind Un Bon P'tit Gars (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in May.
Benjamin Bittern (IRE) 11-4fav (10-6) Tracked leader, led 3f out, ridden and hard pressed 2f out, held on under pressure final furlong, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f cond NH flat (6) gf in Apr '11 beating Pas Trop Tard (10-8) by 1l, 8 ran.
Black Sambuca 66-1 (10-12) Always towards rear and not fluent, 8th of 11, 42l behind Hi George (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Boston Globe (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Soon pressed leader, ridden and lost place over 6f out, soon eased, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Ballybough Pat (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m nhf (6) gd in Mar.
Coastal Boy (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) Mid div, prog to 5th 4out, 4th next, effort 2out to chall last, sow, won at Stradbally 3m ire ptp gf in May '11 beating Ontheslate (12-0) by nk, 12 ran.
Fitandproperjob 20-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, under pressure 4 out, 7th and beaten when fell next, in a race won by De Faoithesdream (11-5) at Worcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May, 10 ran.
Mister Hendre 40-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, mistake 5th, soon well behind, tailed off, last of 13, well behind Thomas Crapper (10-12) at Worcester 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gd.
Moscow Presents (IRE) 7-4 (10-11) Prominent, ridden 4f out, outpaced by front pair over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Brass Monkey (11-1) at Southwell 2m cond NH flat (6) gd in May.
Spanish Arch (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no chance with leading pair final furlong, 3rd of 12, 13l behind I'm Fraam Govan (10-13) at Worcester 2m cond NH flat (6) gd in May.
Buddy Love 7-2 (10-11) Held up in rear, pushed along 7f out, headway 4f out, went 2nd over 2f out, led inside final furlong, pricked ears, ran on, won at Towcester 2m NH flat (6) gf in May beating Nice 'n' Sleazy (11-1) by 2l, 7 ran.