tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed last, no extra flat
tracked leaders, led 6th, soon headed, led 7th to 3 out, soon weakened, blundered 2 out
prominent, raced keenly, led after 6th, headed next, weakened approaching 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway after 9th, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, pushed along 9th, headway under pressure from 3 out, no impression when mistake last, went modest 4th flat
mid-division, headway 7th, challenging when not fluent 3 out, beaten 2 out
in rear, reminder after 5th, behind when mistake 8th, mistake next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, raced keenly, smooth headway after 9th, went slightly left and led last, in command flat, ridden and ran on well
in rear, not fluent 3rd or 5th, pushed along 7th, losing touch after next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led 1st until approaching 4th, remained handy, led briefly before 3 out, weakened approaching last
towards rear, not fluent 9th, soon lost touch, tailed off
mid-division, pulled hard, mistake 1st, blundered 9th, soon weakened
led to 1st, led approaching 4th until 6th, driven before 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, headway after 7th, challenging going well 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on towards finish
An open contest where it may be worth chancing ORCHARD KING, while Massams Lane and Tavalu are among the potential dangers. The selection has switched from Neil King to Alison Thorpe since being a well beaten third at Huntingdon in May. His new handler has a reputation for improving her inmates and this particular one would not have to find much more anyway to be a major player. Trip and ground suit and we will take a chance on him. Massams Lane steps up to three miles for the first time, having won over 2m 3f at Fontwell last time in a novices' contest. The assessor has raised him 10lbs for that, but he acts on the ground and is going the right way, so is respected. Tavalu has already thrashed Massams Lane when they finished behind Passato at Exeter in May, although it would not do to get carried away with that race given that the Gerald Ham-trained runner is now fully 16lbs higher and has work to do. Think Lucky is proving tough to win with and cheek pieces are now tried in an attempt to get him more interested, while it would be no surprise to see Dip In The Med show far more than in three previous maiden hurdles, now that he has been given a lowly mark of 86. Orchard King is the one for us here.
Particle (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Led to 3rd, remained handy, led throughout, ridden out, won at Worcester 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Jun beating Dan Maguire (11-7) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Massams Lane 7-1 (10-12) Led to approaching 3rd, led after 6th, shaken up approaching 2 out, hard ridden approaching last, kept on well flat, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jun beating Bankstair (11-6) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Shield of Zeus (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Lost touch from 6th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Benmadigan (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Jun, 14 ran.
Semi Detached (IRE) 50-1 (11-9) In rear, ridden and outpaced 7th, stayed on, 5th of 14, 12l behind Benmadigan (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Jun.
Think Lucky 10-1 (11-12) In touch, ridden 5th, weakened approaching next, 6th of 14, 21l behind Benmadigan (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Jun.
Orchard King (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, led approaching 9th, headed when mistake 2 out, beaten when hampered last, weakened flat, 3rd of 15, 16l behind Bob 'n' You (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Light Entertainer 100-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, led approaching 2 out, joined last, soon headed and rider dropped rein, held towards finish, 2nd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Malakiya (10-12) at Hereford 3m 2f sell hdl (5) gf in Jun.
Winchester Red 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway after 5th, every chance after 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 11, 25l behind Green Belt Elite (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Mar.
Tavalu (USA) 6-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, ridden after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, went moderate 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 22l behind Monn Royal (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jun.
Rio Laine 10-1 (11-4) Raced keenly, in touch when jumped left 1st, several erratic jumps after, hampered 3rd, effort approaching 9th, well beaten before 3 out, 8th of 13, 39l behind Ring For Time (11-2) at Stratford 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jun.
Formedable (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Behind, headway and just about in touch 8th, weakened before 10th, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Will If I Want (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Prophete de Guye (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 6th, led approaching 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 14, 11l behind Saafend Rocket (10-10) at Southwell 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
Dip In The Med (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway when jumped left 8th, mistake next, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Nabouko (11-0) at Southwell 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Skipper's Lad (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Always mid-division, 12th of 17, 29l behind Danish Monarch (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jun.
