chased leaders, led approaching 3 out, headed flat, no extra
chased leaders, led 3rd, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, effort approaching 3 out, never dangerous
held up in touch, hampered 4th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, led, stayed on well to lead flat
in touch when brought down 5th
held up, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up, chased leaders 4th, challenged 3 out, kept on from last
led, headed 3rd, in 2nd when fell 4th
held up, chased leaders 4th, blundered 2 out, soon weakened
held up, effort 3 out, never dangerous
ELA RE is a token selection to win this handicap hurdle with Knockavilla an intriging handicap debutant while Pay Attention and Smoothly Does It are others to consider. Well handicapped relative to his chasing mark, a combination of soft ground and lack of race fitness appeared to contribute to Ela Re's undoing at Aintree on his seasonal debut but off a mark of 125 today, he makes some appeal. Knockavilla has his first run for over 12 months. He was very impressive in landing a novice hurdle here last season before injury intervened. Pay Attention was beaten when falling here and this might just be a confidence booster before he reverts to chasing. European Dream and Edas are others that deserve some consideration but Ela Re is given the vote to land the finale.
Freeloader (IRE) 66-1 (11-6) Always behind, pushed along 4th, ridden next, weakened from 4 out, tailed off, last of 14, well behind French Opera (11-8) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Oct.
Ela Re 22-1 (11-9) Always behind, weakened from 5 out, 8th of 11, 43l behind Tramantano (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Pay Attention 14-1 (11-5) Held up, hit 5th, in 6th and beaten when fell 4 out in race won by Yes Sir (11-10) at Wetherby 2m 4f lst hcp chs (1) gf in Oct, 8 ran.
Smoothly Does It 11-4jt-fav (10-8) In touch, headway 3 out, effort next, every chance when hung right approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Lord Baskerville (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Apr.
European Dream (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Raced keenly in mid division, outpaced after 3 out, weakened next, 13th of 17, 32l behind Katies Tuitor (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Soubriquet (IRE) 22-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, driven and weakened from next, 10th of 15, 26l behind Warsaw Pact (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf.
Realism (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway approaching 5th, mistake 3 out, soon beaten, blundered 2 out, 5th of 12, 11l behind Moon Star (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in May.
Edas 5-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd when hit 3 out, led before next, soon clear, comfortably, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Aug '07 beating Habanero (11-5) by 9l, 13 ran.
Knockavilla (IRE) 4-5fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led on bit approaching 2 out, easily, won at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (3) gf in Nov '07 beating Go Tech (11-0) by 6l, 8 ran.
Smugglers Bay (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 11th of 15, 28l behind Warsaw Pact (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf.
Heavenly Chorus 7-1 (11-1) In touch, not fluent 5th, soon lost place, headway after 3 out, one pace approaching 2 out, 4th of 13, 10l behind Arctic Magic (11-7) at Stratford 2m 3f mrs hcp hdl (3) sft in Apr.
Good Spirit (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, ridden after 8th, soon struggling, well behind 3 out, 8th of 13, 48l behind My Way de Solzen (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 1 (1) sft in Mar '07.
Mr Crystal (FR) 3-1 (11-8) Held up, ridden 4 out, plugged on one pace, 3rd of 6, 36l behind La Vecchia Scuola (11-1) at Ayr 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gd in Apr.
Cnoc Moy (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, well behind approaching 3 out, 19th of 20, well behind Font (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
