held up in rear, reminders approaching 3rd, weakened 5th, pulled up before 3 out
prominent, took keen hold, pecked slightly 4th, ridden after 3 out, weakened and jumped right next, took 2nd post
tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened flat, lost 2nd post
tracked leader, led approaching 3 out where not fluent, clear when not fluent last, very easily
led until approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, took keen hold, mistake 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, jumped left, mistake and unseated rider 2 out
held up in 5th, ridden 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
This is a classy contest for the money, and the selection is MOHANAD, with Alhaque in form and respected, while Ghimaar will also be a popular choice. The last named has been running in better company, but this Irish raider may well prefer more give in the ground. Alhaque comes here as a progressive type, having claimed a novices' handicap hurdle last time. That was a sound performance and he can play a leading role here. Mohanad ran a fine race in defeat in a decent handicap hurdle last time, not beaten far. He can handle the surface and Mohanad looks to have the most solid recent form here.
Midnight Spirit 10-3fav (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd briefly after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 11, 18l behind Woodlark Island (11-5) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in May.
Now This Is It (IRE) 13-8fav (11-1) Close up on outside, went 2nd after 7th, joined leader 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and headed flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Heez A Steel (10-11) at Kelso 2m 6f hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Mohanad (IRE) 6-1 (10-4) Chased leader, led 3rd, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 14, 10l behind Tabaran (10-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Ghimaar 12-1 (11-2) Pulled hard in rear, mistakes 4th and 3 out, soon ridden, never on terms, 5th of 9, well behind Escort'men (10-7) at Kempton 2m nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Kind Heart 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, took keen hold, led 6th, fell 3 out, in a race won by Alazan (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in May, 11 ran.
Red Dagger (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Raced keenly, hit 5th, lost place next, soon behind, 6th of 12, 35l behind Gremlin (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Calon 18-1 (9-9) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway 4 out, not fluent next, weakening when not fluent last, 6th of 10, 8l behind Midnight Spirit (10-7) at Chepstow 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gf in Apr.
Agente Romano (USA) 8-1 (11-2) Led, not fluent 3rd, soon went clear, headed approaching 6th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, 4th of 11, 19l behind Nortonthorpe Lad (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in May.
Olympian Boy (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Led, headed 5th, regained lead soon after, headed approaching 6th, weakened after 7th, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by I'm A Legend (11-0) at Taunton 2m nov chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov, 4 ran.
Alhaque (USA) 14-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, good headway before 2 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, kept on well flat, won at Ascot 2m 4yo nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr beating Souter Point (10-5) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.