held up, headway after 8th, outpaced approaching 3 out, rallied 2 out, stayed on to lead towards finish
started slowly, took keen hold in rear, headway to lead 1st, hit 2nd, jumped right from 4th, headed approaching 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden after 9th, soon outpaced, rallied 2 out, one pace flat
prominent to 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led to 1st, chased leaders, hit 4th, lost place after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
behind from 3rd
behind, headway 7th, led 9th to approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out
chased leaders, led approaching 8th to 9th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
keen, mid-division, headway 6th, led approaching 3 out, soon clear, ridden when mistake last, headed and weakened flat
held up, ridden after 9th, headway 2 out, one pace flat
We will shortlist Koln Stars, Business Traveller and Hi Laurie in the finale but will side with the last-named. Hi Laurie still seemed to be on the upgrade when winning here over fences when stepped up to three miles in October. An Irish winner over hurdles, she still looks reasonably weighted off a mark of 85 and is effective at this trip and, as such, gets our vote. Business Traveller won off today's mark of 95 in March 2004 and, much as he has not really built on that, a glimmer of hope appeared at the start of the year, while Tramore 2004 winner, Koln Stars, could yet have more to come on his first British run, although the handicapper has not really taken too many chances. Turning to the others, and the six-time winner Arm And A Leg has won here but needs a career best to score, and Gatorade, who has won from a rating of 112 over fences and races here from 105, are not forlorn hopes, but we will stick with Hi Laurie.
Arm And A Leg (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) In touch, headway 3 out, ridden approaching next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 9l behind He's A Leader (11-3) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd.
Open Range (IRE) 5-1 (10-6) Mid-division, 7th and pushed along 6 out, weakened from 4 out, 10th of 13, well behind Millanymare (10-2) at Galway 3m hcp hdl 0-130 gf in Jul.
Ingres 16-1 (10-4) Held up, headway after 3 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 19, 16l behind All Star (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd.
Icare d'Oudairies (FR) 11-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, challenged 4 out, ridden and slightly outpaced next, chased winner 2 out, challenged flat, no extra, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Greenwich (11-0) at Plumpton 3m 2f beg chs (E) gd in May '04.
Business Traveller (IRE) 28-1 (11-6) Held up, some headway 6th, soon ridden, weakened next, tailed off, 15th of 17, well behind Pardon What (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd.
Harry Collins 14-1 (11-5) Behind when mistake and unseated rider in race won by Kausse de Thaix (11-1) at Windsor 3m hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd, 13 ran.
Hi Laurie (IRE) 6-4fav (11-2) Led 2nd, ridden and headed last, weakened flat, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Buster (11-7) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp hdl 0-90 (F) hvy.
Gatorade (NZ) 12-1 (10-5) Held up, pecked 2nd, headway 8th, led 3 out, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Apr beating Mixsterthetrixster (12-2) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
