held up, effort to track leaders 5th, 3 lengths 3rd when not fluent last, carried head high, weakened flat
held up, headway after 4th, went 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, led flat, kept on under pressure
led to 2nd, 3rd and ridden when blundered 3 out, soon weakened
took keen hold in rear, not fluent 2nd, effort to chase leaders 5th, ridden when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, blundered final 2
took keen hold, led 2nd to 4th, ridden 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leading pair, led and jumped right from 4th, headed and ridden flat, no extra
took keen hold, held up, lost touch from 4th, tailed off
Bumper and middle distance flat winner Modaffaa made an encouraging start to his hurdling career when chasing home Jacaranda over course and distance last month and he is taken to go one better here at the main expense of Brave Hiawatha and Lake Imperial. The last mentioned has claims on the pick of his form but is inconsistent so may be best watched. Admiral Compton is not as good as he once was on the flat and hurdling does not look to be the answer, while Changing Gear would look to be one of the lesser lights in Jonjo O'Neill's yard. Brave Hiawatha is consistent but needs to improve to get the better of Modaffaa, who is hard to oppose.
Admiral Compton 20-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, hit 1st, headway after 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 7th of 14, 16l behind Go Free (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Jul.
Changing Gear (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 14, 17l behind Present Oriented (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Lake Imperial (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Chased leaders, behind from 6th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Monsieur (11-5) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jul, 14 ran.
Modaffaa 5-4fav (11-0) Always prominent, chased leader from 3rd, every chance 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 12, 9l behind Jacaranda (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Jul.
Mr Strowger 100-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, tailed off 6th pulled up 3 out in race won by Sunley Future (11-1) at Taunton 2m 1f sll hdl (5) gs in Feb, 11 ran.
Zion (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, 12th of 16, well behind Blackhall Claw (11-4) at Kilbeggan 2m mdn hdl gf.
Higgys Prince 50-1 (9-0) Started slowly, always in rear, well behind final 3f, last of 10, 24l behind Young Valentino (9-0) at Lingfield 6f mdn aut stk (5) gd in Jul '05 (Flat).
Brave Hiawatha (FR) 4-1jt-fav (10-11) Held up towards rear, hampered 5th, headway next, soon ridden and weakened, 8th of 10, 34l behind Mr Tambourine Man (10-5) at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jun.
