held up in rear, headway 9th, soon pushed along, went 4th after 2 out, never dangerous
in touch, jumped slowly 2nd, went prominent 7th, led after 9th, headed 3 out, weakening 3rd when not fluent last
chased leaders, hit 6th, lost place, struggling before 9th, pulled up well before 3 out
tracked leader, led approaching 8th, not fluent 9th, soon headed, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, raced keenly, headway after 7th, led on bit 3 out, sauntered clear from next, eased towards finish
held up in rear, headway after 7th, not fluent 3 out, switched right approaching 2 out, went 2nd before last, no chance with winner
mid-division but in touch, not fluent 6th, challenged approaching 8th, led after next briefly, weakened approaching 2 out
raced keenly, led, jumped right 1st, headed approaching 8th, weakened next, tailed off
chased leaders, lost place under pressure after 7th, behind before 9th, tailed off
Nonrunner
After the best start to life in the Handicap Hurdle ranks DIRAR is taken to follow-up in preference to All Three fables and Hi Dancer. Eight lengths was the margin of victory for the pick off a mark of 93 last time so it is possible the seven pound penalty he carries here as a result still sees Gordon Elliot's charge well treated. He was plenty talented enough on the level to suggest he can offer more and he should at least be good enough to win off his current rating. The ground might slightly be against All Three Fables but if he can cope with the conditions he should challenge off his competitive mark. Hi Dancer is in the prize money more often than not and is still weighted to run a big race but with Pat Haslam's gelding the only other in the field we consider Dirar looks to have strong claims here.
Hi Dancer 10-3 (11-12) Held up and keen, tracked leaders after 3 out, weakened after next, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Intersky Music (9-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gf.
Aldiruos (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) In rear, and ran in snatches, never dangerous, 7th of 13, 41l behind Native City (10-12) at Worcester 2m 7f nov chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.
Winged d'Argent (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Led, headed 4 out, soon ridden, one pace, 4th of 10, 7l behind Mae Cigan (11-9) at Chepstow 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Major Miller 9-2fav (11-4) Prominent, led and jumped left from 6th, came wide when clear before 3 out, headed and weakened approaching last, 5th of 14, 22l behind Openide (11-2) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Dirar (IRE) 15-8fav (10-11) Held up, raced keenly, headway 6th, went 2nd after next, led 2 out, clear flat easily, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs beating Blaze Trailer (11-5) by 8l, 9 ran.
Baskerville 25-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, lost place from 9th, 7th of 8, 44l behind Royal Hilarity (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Mar.
All Three Fables 4-1fav (10-13) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway when hit 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd near finish, 2nd of 17, 2 1/4l behind Whats Up Bob (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
That Man Fox 7-1 (10-5) Led until after 5th, weakened approaching next, 5th of 7, well behind Cootehill (11-5) at Stratford 2m nov hdl (4) gd.
Jontys'lass 25-1 (10-1) Led to 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up last, in a race won by Wogan (11-4) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May '08, 16 ran.
Temple Place (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Always in rear, last of 11, well behind Bugsy's Boy (11-10) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
