mid-division, hit 3rd, chased leaders 4 out, soon ridden, weakened from next
made all, jumped right 2 out, easily
held up in rear, steady headway from 4 out, soon chasing leaders, jumped left last, kept on to take 3rd towards finish
with leader, weakened after 4 out
in rear, weakened from 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
held up, headway after 4 out to go 3rd, ridden and blundered 2 out, not fluent last, lost 3rd towards finish
held up mid-division, went 2nd from 4 out, kept on from 2 out, no chance with winner
chased leaders, reminders after 4th, blundered 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, weakened from 4 out
always behind, tailed off from 4 out
Just as in the first division of this novices' hurdle, Howard Johnson looks to hold solid claims of taking this race with is runner ABSTINENCE, a bumper winner who lost no caste in defeat on his hurdles debut here back in May behind Fistral, and he gets the vote to go one better today with the main dangers rated as Follow On and Sir Tantallus Hawk. Alan Swinbank's gelding has not progressed from a winning start in a Sedgefield bumper in March but the switch to hurdles may bring about improvement in the four-year-old. Brian's Journey has been well held in both starts so far but Len Lungo has his team in good form now so he cannot be ruled out, while Titinius has shown enough in two starts over hurdles and on the flat to suggest that he cannot be out of the equation. More solid claims are seemingly held by Sedgefield winner Follow On but he has twice struggled under penalties since that success and a safer option looks to be Abstinence, who gets the verdict.
Follow On 10-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression, 4th of 11, 41l behind Gray Mountain (11-5) at Perth 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Abstinence (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Keen early, tracked leader, challenged 4 out, led before next, soon ridden, headed last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Fistral (10-10) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in May.
Brian's Journey 33-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, not fluent, 14th of 16, well behind Signalman (10-5) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Copper's Gold (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Mid-division inside, outpaced over 5f out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, well behind McMurrough (11-7) at Kelso 2m nhf (6) gd in Oct.
El Chico 12-1 (10-7) Raced keenly, tracked leader, led over 5f out, headed over 3f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 20l behind Cape Tribulation (10-7) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nhf (6) gd in Mar.
Ginger's Lad 20-1 (10-11) Held up, ridden halfway, never dangerous, 10th of 16, well behind Stagecoach Pearl (11-1) at Catterick 2m nhf (5) gd.
Mr Bond (IRE) 18-1 (11-1) Held up, lost place 6f out, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Karabak (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nhf (6) gd in Apr.
Sir Tantallus Hawk 8-1 (11-11) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, driven and one pace final 2f, 3rd of 16, 8l behind Stagecoach Pearl (11-1) at Catterick 2m nhf (5) gd.
Soneva Gili (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Mid-division until weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Fortunate Isle (10-12) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) sft, 12 ran.
Titinius (IRE) 22-1 (11-6) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, one pace, 4th of 16, 12l behind Puy d'Arnac (11-3) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Dec '07.
Anne Sian (IRE) 200-1 (10-7) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 4th in race won by Night Force (11-0) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) frm in Oct, 17 ran.
Arch 50-1 (10-7) Always behind, last of 11, well behind Razor Royale (10-9) at Perth 2m nhf (5) gd in Sept '07.
