tracked winner until 4 out, soon pushed along and outpaced
made all, clear from 3 out, ridden approaching last, kept on well, driven out
held up in mid-division on inside, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and kept on from 2 out, went 3rd at last, no impression
held up towards rear, weakened from 5th, tailed off approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, chased winner from 4 out, ridden next, kept on from last, always held
held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, plugged on from next, no impression
tracked leaders, blundered 4th, weakened next, tailed off approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, hit next, kept on same pace, never dangerous
held up in rear, tailed off after 4 out, pulled up soon after
held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, kept on from next, no impression
held up towards rear, headway on outer to track leaders approaching 4th, weakened from 3 out
held up towards rear, outpaced from 4 out, ridden next, no impression
Nonrunner
In a wide open race HIPPOLYTUS gets the tentative vote; Risk Challenge, Tyrana and King's Chorister can fight it out for minor honours. Our selection is a mile and a quarter flat winner who is rated 73 in that sphere. With that in mind he's been disappointing in three tries over timber but there was some encouragement to be drawn from his fifth at Kelso last time and if he can keep improving this mark of 87 could appear very generous. With the drop down to two miles and quick ground set to be in his favour, today could be the day he comes good for these connections. That said, his profile is one that doesn't inspire maximum faith and there are a host of dangers, headed by Tyrana. Ian Williams' mare struggled over hurdles when last sent over them back in 2008 but she's been at the top of her game on the level of late, winning two from her last three. As with our selection, if she can translate that improvement across to hurdling a race like this should come her way. Risk Challenge has no such questions to answer and has real claims if repeating his emphatic last time out success. That was in selling company however and he's struggled in the past off this sort of mark in handicaps, so our inclination is to take him on for win purposes. King's Chorister attracted support at Perth last time and ran reasonably to take third. Off a pound lower mark and with conditions ideal, he's another to consider in a wide open affair. Graham Lee's booking aboard Everaard catches the eye and this horse could be thrown in if the cheek-pieces spark a return to his best so a market check is advised whilst Night Knight should go well if putting an abhorrent display behind him, but we like the handicap mark of Hippolytus and he's taken to exploit it.
Sharadiyn 13-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, hit 7th, ridden to chase leading pair approaching 2 out, weakened going to last, 4th of 12, 36l behind Pugnacity (10-1) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Dereks (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Behind, struggling in rear when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Gala Evening (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb '09, 20 ran.
Hippolytus 28-1 (10-9) Held up mid-division, chased leaders 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on same pace, 5th of 8, 11l behind Balnagore (10-12) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Barbarian 16-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 27l behind Barron Watlass (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Danehill Silver 33-1 (11-6) Towards rear, effort 4th, weakened 3 out, hit last, 7th of 10, 43l behind Ardesia (11-5) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in May.
Everaard (USA) 40-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 11, 37l behind Barron Watlass (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Night Knight (IRE) 10-3 (10-10) Held up towards rear and keen, hit 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Solis (11-7) at Perth 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Hernando Cortes 16-1 (11-8) Soon led, headed 3 out, beaten last, 5th of 10, 23l behind Ardesia (11-5) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in May.
Perez (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 15th of 16, 41l behind Beidh Tine Anseo (11-2) at Kelso 2m cond nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Qaasi (USA) 50-1 (10-5) Mid-division, weakened from 4 out, 14th of 17, well behind Ton-Chee (11-6) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in May.
King's Chorister 5-2fav (9-13) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders in 3rd approaching 2 out, kept on one pace from last, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Solis (11-7) at Perth 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Mulligan's Pride (IRE) 9-1 (10-6) Always towards rear, reminders after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Rival Bidder (10-13) at Southwell 3m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Oct '08, 15 ran.
Archie's Wish 22-1 (10-4) Mid-division, ridden after 4 out, no impression from 3 out, 8th of 17, 39l behind Ton-Chee (11-6) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in May.
Adage 20-1 (10-5) Always in rear, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind The Good Guy (11-2) at Stratford 2m 3f cnd/am sll hdl (5) gd in Oct.
Tyrana (GER) 28-1 (11-2) Towards rear, mistake 2nd, soon behind, 12th of 21, 44l behind Fair Dual (10-10) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gd in Mar '08.
Risk Challenge (USA) 20-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, led after next, drew clear on bit approaching last, unextended, won at Huntingdon 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May beating Masterpoint (10-7) by 9l, 14 ran.