led, headed 3 out, weakening when fell 2 out
in touch, headway to lead 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on
tracked leaders and keen, ridden and weakened 2 out
prominent, ridden 4th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, ridden when mistake 4 out, soon weakened
in touch, smooth headway 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on
pulled hard and mistake 1st, ridden and some progress 4 out, weakened 3 out
held up rear, mistake 1st, headway to join leaders 3 out, ridden and faded approaching last
mid-division, ridden and outpaced 5th, stayed on
pulled hard and soon prominent, mistake 5th, soon weakened and lost touch, pulled up before 2 out
held up, reminders after 3rd, lost touch from 3 out
in touch, weakening and mistake 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Le Corvee gets the confident selection ahead of Bayard and Able Charlie. Le Corvee was an early casualty from the Listed Wensleydale Hurdle at Wetherby on Saturday but Alan King bids for quick compensation and provided that the horse has shown no ill effects - his flat form entitles him to major consideration at this lesser level. Bayard has to be respected from the James Fanshawe yard. He does have a bit to find on flat form but the way he was campaigned suggested that anything shown there was a bonus and that the winter game was always in connections' thoughts. Able Charlie has shown most of his form on fast ground. He ran an encouraging hurdles debut in spite of a couple of hairy leaps. Garhoud attracted plenty of sales interest at Pontefract when winning a seller for Ed Dunlop last April. He has not been seen since. Rawaabet was a cheap purchase out of the Marcus Tregonning yard and new connections had a good summer with him. He does have plenty of middle pace so it will be interesting to see what tactics are used today. Theflyingscottie was comprehensively outclassed behind Vale De Lobo and will be vulnerable to any horse with a touch of class this time around. Le Corvee is accordingly nominated in the opener.
Able Charlie (GER) 14-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway approaching 5th, mistake 3 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 15, 14l behind Voir Dire (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m 3yo mdn hdl (D) gf.
Bayard (USA) 10-1 (8-5) Tracked leaders for 1 mile, 9th of 10, 14l behind Casual Glance (8-2) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gs (Flat).
Cloonavery (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 8th of 13, 33l behind Palace Walk (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gf.
Garhoud 3-1 (8-12) Chased leader, led 3f out, ridden clear over 1f out, won at Pontefract 1m 4f 3yo sll (6) sft in Apr beating Josear (9-4) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran (Flat).
Halcyon Express (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden and weakened over 3f out, last of 8, 47l behind Lord of The East (9-5) at Epsom 7f clm (5) gd in Jul (Flat).
Le Corvee (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Held up, in touch when fell at the 2nd in race won by Aviation (11-2) at Wetherby 2m lst nov hdl (A) sft, 10 ran.
Mickey Pearce (IRE) 40-1 (8-5) Raced keenly in touch, driven and lost place 5f out, tailed off final 2f, 12th of 14, well behind Zeydnaa (9-3) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-50 (6) gf (Flat).
Rawaabet (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Prominent, effort over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened quickly over 1f out, last of 13, 10l behind Glencalvie (9-2) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gd (Flat).
Theflyingscottie 66-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out to chase leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 16, 30l behind Vale de Lobo (10-3) at Chepstow 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gs.
Brazen Hooker (IRE) 16-1 (7-13) Led early, headed and weakened before halfway, last of 28, 24l behind Koukalova (8-2) at Curragh 7f gd in Sept (Flat).
Harry's Simmie (IRE) 100-1 (10-0) In touch, weakening when fell 4 out in race won by Palace Walk (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gf, 13 ran.
Inagh 100-1 (9-12) Behind, mistake 4th, soon tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Palace Walk (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gf.
