disputed 2nd, headway 4 out, challenged approaching 2 out, outpaced between last 2, jumped right last, no chance with winner
raced keenly, led and clear to 4 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened
pulled hard in rear, blundered 4th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up after 6th
disputed 2nd, headway 4 out, led before 2 out, drew clear between last 2, stayed on well comfortably
held up, not fluent 6th, struggling 4 out, soon beaten
Straw Bear really ought to be good enough to win this, but his chasing form so far has not been red hot and we will take him on with debutant SOMERSBY. Hen Knight's gelding was rated around 20lbs inferior to the former Champion Hurdle favourite over the smaller obstacles, but the name of this game is jumping and Straw Bear has so far been unable to display the necessary fluency over fences. That may change today, but he wound up last season on a mark of 139 and if he runs to that then he may have his work cut out where Somersby is concerned. Seen out only four times over hurdles, the five-year-old was last seen going close is a very competitive Grade 2 hurdle at Aintree in the spring, achieving a mark of 141 for that. Sure to have been very well prepared by his handler, he acts on good ground and goes well fresh and he looks worth chancing. Slew Charm has not won for well over three years, and although trip and ground will suit him, he does not really have the profile nor probably the ability to take this. Kanad ran up a hurdling hat-trick a couple of years ago but has not been seen since being well beaten at Hereford in February of last year. Charlie Mann's runners are going well enough and the seven-year-old won't lack for schooling, although he too looks to have a bit to find on hurdling form and may be best watched today. Olympian Boy debuts over fences for Anabel King, and he has more to find than most judged on hurdling ability, so he is another for whom we recommend a watching brief for now, and Somersby is taken to make this a successful introduction to the bigger obstacles.
Kanad 11-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, one pace from next, 5th of 14, 13l behind Oh Crick (11-5) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb '08.
Olympian Boy (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Led and soon clear until after 4th, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching next, 4th of 8, 10l behind Kickahead (11-3) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
Slew Charm (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 9th of 17, 20l behind Pigeon Island (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sep '07.
Somersby (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, headed approaching last, kept on, 3rd of 11, 1 1/4l behind El Dancer (11-0) at Aintree 2m nov hdl G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Straw Bear (USA) 33-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, steady progress from 10th, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, one pace from next, 5th of 20, 25l behind Chapoturgeon (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
