in touch, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before last
chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
with leader, led 2nd, blundered 4 out, ridden clear next
held up mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, chased leaders 4 out, weakened approaching next
held up, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out
held up and raced wide, headway 5th, chased winner 3 out, no impression
led to 2nd, chased winner until 3 out, in 3rd and held when pecked 2 out, one pace
held up, headway 3 out, stayed on from next, blundered last, no impression
Astarador had some decent form in bumpers last season including when a very creditable seventh in the Aintree bumper that has worked out so well and Howard Johnson's gelding is taken to make a winning debut over hurdles at the main expense of Osako D'airy and Bayside. The last mentioned also showed good form in National Hunt flat races but Keith Reveley's gelding may be better on a faster surface so he is probably best watched today. Stablemate Celtic Carisma was nothing special on the flat and it will be a surprise if he is good enough to win this on his hurdling debut, while Supercilious, a winner over hurdles in France, may struggle under his penalty today. Osako D'airy has been largely disappointing in three runs since coming from France and is another probably best watched in a race where the vote goes to the potentially useful Astarador.
Supercilious (IRE) (10-6) Made all, ran on strongly, won at Enghien 2m 2f hdl in Apr beating Laissez Moi Danser (10-10) by 5l, 9 ran.
Airedale Lad (IRE) 22-1 (9-1) Towards rear, effort over 3f out, no impression, 11th of 17, 13l behind Second Reef (9-1) at Redcar 1m 2f sll (6) frm in Sept (Flat).
Astarador (FR) 40-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 10f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 22, 10l behind Pangbourne (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nhf Grd 2 (1) gs in Apr.
Bayside 11-10fav (10-11) Held up, headway to chase leaders over 4f out, led well over 1f out, kept on and headed well inside final furlong, 2nd of 14, nk behind Coolawarra (11-2) at Catterick 2m nhf (H) gd in Mar '05.
Just Waz (USA) 10-1 (8-13) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 15, 15l behind Let It Be (9-10) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Sept (Flat).
Opio (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Led until bend after 5f when ran out in race won by Giveusaclue (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 1f nhf (6) sft, 15 ran.
Osako D'airy (FR) 6-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders 3 out, not fluent next, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 15, 21l behind Orpen Wide (11-1) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (3) gd.
Shamwari Fire (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, driven and effort approaching 2 out, ridden and no impression approaching last, 3rd of 10, 12l behind Lodgician (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
The Ring (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, badly hampered 2nd, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 6th of 19, 15l behind Shuhood (11-4) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (D) gs in Oct '04.
Tidy (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Always behind, weakened from 5th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Albany (10-12) at Catterick 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) gs in Feb '04, 13 ran.
Celtic Carisma 18-1 (9-3) Held up, ridden and weakened over 4f out, 11th of 14, 30l behind Saluscraggie (8-11) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) sft (Flat).
