held up, took keen hold, closed 2nd, not fluent 5th, mistake 7th, effort 3 out, soon ridden, 3rd and beaten when mistake 2 last
held up, in touch 2nd, dropped to last after 5th, weakened 3 out
chased clear leader, closed before 2nd, mistake 5th, led 3 out, driven out
held up in last pair, jumped slowly and reminders 3rd, mistake 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in 3rd, closed 2nd, hit 4th, not fluent next or 7th, weakened after 3 out
led, clear until before 2nd where jumped right, headed 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up in last pair, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner before next, driven and stayed on flat, unable to challenge
It's hard to think of another horse that has performed at Royal Ascot and a selling hurdle in successive races but that's the case with Grand Art. Beaten over 280 lengths at the Royal meeting he actually has a decent chance on the best of his hurdling form in what is a fair event for the grade. Fine Lace keeps finding one or two too good and may do so again, whilst Park's Prodigy isn't ruled out if anywhere near his best. He wasn't disgraced on the level at Doncaster last time. Kilshannig has become somewhat frustrating and will need Tony McCoy's best efforts to keep his mind on the job so YOU CAN OF COURSE is a tentative selection. He has useful form over both fences and hurdles to his name and will go close if delivering his best.
Abbey Minster 6-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, headway approaching next, plugged on from 2 out, 3rd of 11, 30l behind Command Marshal (10-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct '09.
Escardo (GER) 33-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway to go 3rd before 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 8, 44l behind Diddley Dee (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jun.
Grand Art (IRE) 13-2 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, challenged 3 out, driven flat, stayed on same pace, held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Buckstruther (10-10) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
Kilshannig (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, ridden in 4th when fell 12th, in a race won by Princely Hero (11-9) at Southwell 2m 4f cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd, 9 ran.
Park's Prodigy 3-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, slow 2nd, blundered 3rd, under pressure when mistake 5 out, soon weakened, remote 3rd, 3rd of 4, 46l behind Lost Glory (11-4) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
You Can of Course (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Close up early, weakened from 13th, 11th of 15, well behind Inishrush (10-8) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-85 (5) gd.
Fine Lace (IRE) 15-2 (10-2) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden in 3rd well before 2 out, went 2nd before 2 out, never any chance with unchallenged winner, 2nd of 11, 20l behind Cygnet (11-3) at Southwell 2m 4f nov sell hdl (5) gd.
