led until before 2 out, kept on flat, no impression on winner
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, outpaced after 3 out, rallied from next, slightly hampered last, led flat, soon clear
tracked leaders, switched left and went 2nd after 2 out, joined leader when fell last
tracked leader, challenged 5th, led before 2 out, joined when slightly hampered last, headed flat, no impression on winner towards finish
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, weakened after 3 out
held up towards rear, headway on outside 4th, went 2nd before 2 out, lost place before last
tracked leaders, pushed along after 3 out, slightly outpaced before 2 out, keeping on when hampered last, no impression flat
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway approaching 2 out, not fluent last, kept on, no impression on winner
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, hit 2 out, lost place before last
Some top-class hurdlers have won this down the years and Rock On Ruby is a former champion. He ran The New One to a head back over the smaller obstacles in the Aintree Hurdle in April and should make a bold bid. Irving won twice in this grade in his first season over hurdles but disappointed when joint favourite for the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham in March and may find things a bit tougher this season. Purple Bay won a Listed hurdle at Market Rasen in the summer but was only seventh at Galway subsequently and may have too much weight. He was also beaten by HINT OF MINT (NAP) off level weights at Taunton in the spring and the latter confirmed he was still on an upward curve when chasing home The New One on his reappearance at Kempton. He can confirm that running with the third and fourth, Forgotten Voice and Starluck, and go one better today getting 6lb from easy Chepstow winner Bertimont.
Rock On Ruby (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, closed 5th, led 7th, ridden after 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on, closing on winner close home, just held, 2nd of 7, hd behind The New One (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hdl G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Purple Bay (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, 9th 2 out, no impression approaching last, kept on one pace, 7th of 20, 8l behind Thomas Edison (10-6) at Galway 2m hcp hdl gd in Jul.
Irving 7-2fav (11-7) Held up towards rear of mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, ridden and kept on under pressure from last, never reached leaders, 9th of 18, 11l behind Vautour (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Bertimont (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Took 20 seconds from walking through start until gallop started, made all, clear until steadied pace after 1st, quickened pace up before next, soon clear, at least 20 lengths ahead from 4th, eased towards finish, won at Chepstow 2m Limited hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct beating Dawalan (11-2) by 16l, 7 ran.
Fox Norton (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division, 6th 3 out, soon ridden, moderate 5th entering straight, moderate 3rd at last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 13, 8l behind Abbyssial (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) in May.
Fergall (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Led, ridden approaching straight and headed last, no extra run-in, 8th of 20, 9l behind Thomas Edison (10-6) at Galway 2m hcp hdl gd in Jul.
Hint Of Mint 20-1 (11-0) Tracked leading pair, challenged after 3 out, led approaching next, headed last, kept on, ridden and no impression with winer flat, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind The New One (11-8) at Kempton 2m Listed hdl (1) gs in Oct.
Forgotten Voice (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, close up 3 out, tracked leaders on inside next, soon driven and one pace, went 3rd last, kept on, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 7, 4l behind The New One (11-8) at Kempton 2m Listed hdl (1) gs in Oct.
Starluck (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, close up 3 out, driven to chase leaders after next, ridden and kept on flat, no impression, 4th of 7, 6l behind The New One (11-8) at Kempton 2m Listed hdl (1) gs in Oct.
