held up, headway 4 out, led 2 out, jumped right last, inched left flat, driven out
led, ridden and headed 2 out, lost 2nd approaching last, no extra
in touch, weakened 7th, tailed off
held up, weakened from 4 out
held up, ridden and weakened after 4 out
mid-division, chased leaders 5th, weakened after 4 out
tracked leaders, chased leader after 5th, weakened 4 out
always towards rear
chased leaders, weakened 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up mid-division, in touch from 6th, one pace from 3 out
held up, headway after 4 out, chased winner approaching last, kept on
chased leader until after 5th, weakened from 4 out
A return to this longer trip and quicker ground may mean that we see a different MHILU and he gets our vote over Ten Carat, Bow School and Terenzium. Although seemingly not one to rely on implicitly, the selection should have too much class today. With over a stone in hand on his rivals on official ratings, the 7lb penalty that he carries should prove no obstacle and he is taken to gain just the second win of his career. If it were to turn into a dogfight late on, then it may be Ten Carat who provides the stiffest opposition. Martin Todhunter's eight-year-old is yet to win in five starts over obstacles but rated in the 70's on the level, this son of Grand Lodge can go well if fit after an absence. Terenzium and Daraybad have bits of form that could see them scrap it out for a place, but a bigger danger could be Bow School. Despite coming from an unglamorous family, Howard Johnson's gelding was a useful performer on the point-to-point scene and may well relish the return to this longer trip, however his future may lie over fences. Not a strong contest this by any means and preference is for Mhilu.
Mhilu (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Raced keenly, close up on inside, effort 2 out, ridden and kept on approaching last, not pace of winner, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Noble Alan (11-5) at Perth 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Sept.
Bow School (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Led, ran wide on bend approaching 4, ridden 2 out, headed last, no extra flat, 3rd of 12, 10l behind Royal Rationale (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Sept.
Comeintothespace (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway after 9th, hit 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off, 9th of 14, well behind Orchard House (10-7) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs.
Dance Sauvage 100-1 (10-9) Held up, effort 4 out, outpaced next, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 40l behind Valerius (11-3) at Perth 3m nov hdl (4) gs in Sept.
Daraybad (FR) 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 9th of 12, 32l behind Histoire De Moeurs (10-2) at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl (3) gd in Aug.
Gamma Velorum (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Always behind, tailed off 2 out, 15th of 16, well behind Max Bygraves (11-2) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
McKinneys (IRE) 150-1 (10-5) Held up, struggling 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Valerius (11-3) at Perth 3m nov hdl (4) gs in Sept.
Park Lodge 100-1 (11-2) Lost touch 6th, tailed off, 13th of 15, well behind Ballydub (11-2) at Newbury 2m 5f mdn hdl (3) sft in Mar.
Pleasure Pursuit 66-1 (8-7) In touch, lost place well over 5f out, last of 10, well behind Right To Play (9-13) at Leicester 1m 4f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gf in Apr '07 (Flat).
Ten Carat 7-1 (11-0) Held up, in touch when fell at the 9th in race won by No Refuge (11-0) at Catterick 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Jan, 5 ran.
Terenzium (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) Held up, pushed along after 3rd, weakened from 5th, 7th of 12, well behind Sharevar (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Sept.
The Ice Bar (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, held up, lost touch 7th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Battle Stations (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Jun, 6 ran.
Spirit of Ecstacy 25-1 (10-7) Prominent, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 12, 34l behind Sharevar (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Bronze Dancer (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Valerius (11-3) at Perth 3m nov hdl (4) gs in Sept.
