tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, ridden after 6th, lost place next, soon behind, tailed off when mistake 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, ridden after 6th, well behind from next, tailed off
held up, not always fluent, well behind from 7th, tailed off
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 7th, 3 lengths down when mistake 3 out, no impression last
led until 1st, chased winner until ridden after 7th, weakened 3 out
led 1st, clear 3rd, not fluent 5th, 3 lengths ahead 3 out, drew further ahead from last, easily
held up in rear, not fluent 5th or 6th, well beaten from 7th, remote 5th before 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, ridden after 6th, weakened after next, tailed off
held up, mistake 5th, well behind 7th, tailed off
mid-division, not fluent 3rd or 5th, pushed along after next, went 4th after 7th, no impression, well beaten when mistake 3 out and 2 out
Minella Present will probably start favourite for this courtesy of his impressive win in a maiden hurdle over track and trip earlier in the month. But none of those behind have advertised the form and this is a better race. Shutthebackdoor may have been up against a couple of decent novices when last of three on his hurdles bow and is open to improvement. So is recent course and distance second Roberts Fort while Abricot De L'Oasis won over fences in France. Flintham has finished third in all three run over hurdles but was well beaten on each occasion. COOLOGUE could be interesting if allowed to start at decent odds. He's well bred and the horse that beat him in a point-to-point at Ballyarthur in April has already won over hurdles this autumn.
Abricot De L'Oasis (FR) (10-5) won at Cluny(FR) 2m 2f chs gd in May, 5 ran.
Bryden Boy (IRE) 7-4 (10-4) Held up mid-division, headway before 4f out to chase leaders, ridden before 2f out, one pace, 4th of 10, 13l behind Go Conquer (11-3) at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Apr.
Clancy's Cross (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced by leaders 3f out, lost 3rd and no extra from over 1f out, 4th of 13, 23l behind Gunner Fifteen (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) sft in Nov.
Coologue (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Mid div, 8th frm 7th, prog in 3rd 3out, btn in 3rd bef 2out until so in 2nd at last, no ch with wnr flat, 2nd of 16, 3l behind Private Malone (12-2) at Ballyarthur 3m ire ptp gs in Apr.
Flintham 80-1 (10-7) Pressed leader, not fluent 6th, led narrowly approaching 3 out, driven and headed after 2 out, stayed on same pace and no chance with easy winner, no extra in 3rd before last, 3rd of 13, 21l behind Big Hands Harry (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Minella Present (IRE) 11-10fav (10-6) Held up, closed 3rd, led 3 out, clear when mistake last, comfortably, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f cond mdn hdle (5) gd beating Derrintogher Bliss (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Roberts Fort (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway after 7th, one pace 3 out, went 2nd from after last, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Come On Laurie (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Shutthebackdoor (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 7th, ridden and hung left after 3 out, soon no chance with winner, last of 3, 21l behind Ordo Ab Chao (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
The Cider Maker 5-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, challenged 5f out until ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 31l behind Thistlecrack (10-9) at Wincanton 2m NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Eastern Calm 20-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, pushed along halfway, never dangerous, 5th of 13, 14l behind Cloughernagh Boy (11-2) at Towcester 2m NH flat (6) gd in May.
