towards rear, mistake 5th, headway 7th, ridden and chased leader after 3 out, challenged approaching last, driven out to lead flat
mid-division, mistake and lost place 6th, weakened after 7th
held up, headway 7th, mistake 8th, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, weakened after
mid-division, headway approaching 8th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
led, wandered and hung left approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, blundered last, hung left and soon headed, no extra flat
mid-division, ridden 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, kept on one pace
chased leader, ridden and weakened 7th, pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, ridden 8th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, not fluent 1st, mistake 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, ridden and weakened after 8th, pulled up before 2 out
BARNHILL BROWNIE seems sure to play a leading role here as do Midnight Sail and Pertinent. The selection has joined the powerful Findlay team following a half length victory in a Wexford bumper in July. He's a brother to the multiple winning chaser/hurdler Brooklyn Brownie and clearly has a future at the game. Pertinent has the edge in experience having already had three starts over hurdles. He ran well below par at Taunton when last seen but returns to action sporting a tongue strap and it would be no surprise were we to see a different horse. Midnight Sail brings some strong bumper form to the table having been made favourite to win a Listed race at Warwick where he performed creditably as he did when not far behind Mad Max in a Grade 2 contest at Newbury. A case can also be made for Quail but the remainder look up against it and this should go to one of the representatives of the leading yards; Barnhill Brownie is our choice.
Barnhill Brownie (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Towards rear, closer in 9th 4f out, moderate 4th and ridden before straight, soon closed on inner, led and stayed on well from 100yds out, won at Wexford 2m nhf gd in Jul beating Pengana (11-3) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Leptis Magna 10-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, behind, ridden and struggling final 3f, 8th of 11, 8l behind Sofia's Star (8-11) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gs (Flat).
Lunar Rock (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, pushed along over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 10th of 15, 37l behind Arturo Uno (11-2) at Towcester 2m nhf (5) gd in Apr.
Midnight Sail 15-8fav (11-6) Held up in touch, went 2nd just inside 4f out, every chance over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 3rd of 18, 4l behind Cloudy Times (10-11) at Haydock 2m nhf (6) gs in Mar.
Pertinent (FR) 6-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hit 5th, headway next, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, well behind I Have Dreamed (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (3) gd in Dec.
Quail (FR) 7-2 (10-7) Tracked leaders, chased winner after 3f out, hit next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 11l behind Khachaturian (11-8) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gd.
Skipper's Lad (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, hit 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 7l behind Winged d'Argent (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs.
Thetearsthaticry (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, 17th of 18, well behind Randall's Diana (10-11) at Listowel 2m hcp hdl 0-102 sft in Sept.
The Treacle Eater 11-1 (10-12) Held up mid division, headway 7th, weakened approaching 2f out, 3rd of 11, 23l behind Khachaturian (11-8) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gd.
Well Green (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway over 5f out, ridden over 3f out, kept on same pace final 2f, 6th of 12, 16l behind Friendly King (10-10) at Exeter 2m 1f nhf (5) gd in Apr.
Compleat Artist (IRE) 11-1 (10-6) Never a factor, 8th of 13, 16l behind Mums Chatterbox (11-1) at Hereford 2m 1f nhf (6) gf in Oct '07.
