took keen hold, held up in last pair, headway on wide outside approaching 3 out, challenged next, outpaced between last 2, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd flat
track leaders, challenged 4 out, poor 2nd when left in lead 3 out, headed last, weakened flat
held up, in touch but ridden and hampered 3 out, no chance after
chased clear leader, close 7th, outpaced approaching 2 out, rallied under pressure flat to take 3rd near finish
jumped right, led and clear, came back to field 7th, ridden and narrow leader when fell 3 out
held up last pair and off the pace, closed from 7th, challenged to chase leader between last 2, led last, driven and stayed on well flat
chased leaders, until outpaced 3 out
Monkerhostin reverts to hurdles here and should have the legs of Trouble At Bay, with Monet's Garden and Ilnamar interesting contenders. Monkerhostin still has a bright future over fences ahead of him, as there was certainly no disgrace in finishing third in the Paddy Power, but Philip Hobbs turns him out again quickly to get losses back. The Coral Cup winner has to give a bit of weight away all round here but should be well up to the task, with the novice Trouble At Bay perhaps the main danger. Alan King's charge was caught in the slipstream of Accordion Etoile and company at Cheltenham last week, and may do better over this extra half mile, while Monet's Garden is very highly rated by Nicky Richards who signals his intent by taking on the big boys on the gelding's return to the fray. Not beaten far by Garde Champetre at Aintree in April, his ultimate target is the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Martin Pipe who won this last year with Mr Cool, relies on Ilnamar who has not been seen since finishing behind Flame Creek at Haydock in January 2003. Pipe will have him ready though and he should not be dismissed out of hand. Monkerhostin is the class act though, and can prove that here.
