tracked leader, led before 2 out, ridden and pressed last, kept on and found extra towards finish
led, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders in 3rd place, challenged from 3 out, every chance between last 2, no extra towards finish
in rear, pushed along and weakened after 4 out
held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out
Lieutenant Gruber landed his maiden hurdling success smoothly enough but was a tad disappointing when turned over by Commanche Chieftain at Stratford. The form reads well enough and his stable continues in red-hot form but NEW AGENDA really impressed when landing a first hurdling victory at Huntingdon, has decent previous efforts to his name and receives preference on that evidence. However, this is far from a two-runner shoot-out as Forgotten Hero, useful on the Flat, is steadily coming to terms with the hurdling game and cannot be ruled out on the back of a fair Southwell run in receipt of 7lb from the penalised pair in what is a fascinating little heat.
Lieutenant Gruber (IRE) 5-6fav (11-5) Raced keenly, chased leaders, left in close 2nd 3 out, ridden and hung left approaching last where not fluent, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Comanche Chieftain (11-5) at Stratford 2m (4) gd in Jun.
New Agenda 1-4fav (11-2) Made all, drew clear after 3 out, unchallenged after, very easily, won at Huntingdon 2m mdn (5) gd in May beating Major Davis (11-2) by 19l, 6 ran.
Forgotten Hero (IRE) 13-8 (11-0) Held up in rear in well strung out field, closed 5th, 3rd before 2 out, 2nd approaching last, stayed on but no impression, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Eyesopenwideawake (11-0) at Southwell 2m mdn (5) gd in Jun.
San Quentin (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Chased winner who was soon well clear, closed 5th, lost 2nd before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 4th of 7, dist behind Eyesopenwideawake (11-0) at Southwell 2m mdn (5) gd in Jun.
Truckers Tangle (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders on outside, pushed along over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, weakened and hung left over 1f out, last of 6, 13 3/4l behind Soleglad (11-4) at Stratford 2m (5) gd in Jul.