held up towards rear, headway after 5th, chased winner approaching last, stayed on, no impression
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, ridden and switched right after 2 out, stayed on one pace flat
held up in rear, raced keenly, well beaten before 3 out
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, losing place when looking awkward 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
led, soon clear, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, racing very awkwardly flat
mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway 4th, went 2nd after next, not fluent 3 out, led before 2 out, in command last, driven out
mid-division, headway approaching 4th, weakened before 3 out
mid-division, weakened 4th, tailed off
held up in rear, pushed along after 5th, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace flat
held up in rear, well beaten when blundered 3 out, virtually pulled up flat, tailed off
chased leader until approaching 5th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, no chance when bad blunder last, virtually pulled up flat, tailed off
towards rear, dropped to last before cleared, tailed off
held up towards rear, not much room on inside when headway before 5th, weakened last
It is likely that not many will get into this and STAR OF GERMANY looks handicapped to win, while Akram and Don't Think Twice can chase him home. The selection has been progressive over fences, winning a Newton Abbot chase off a mark of 110 in August of last year and running well off higher than that on his seasonal return last month. He returns to hurdles off 99 and with conditions and trip to suit he is selected to take advantage of that lower mark. Akram has not been seen out for almost a year, when he was beaten comfortably from a mark 2lb lower than today's. He also has conditions to suit and is likely to be fit to do himself justice, but he is taken on. Edgefour enjoyed the spring before coming unstuck last time over 2m 4f. The return to this trip looks a positive and he can go close. Irish raider Don't Think Twice seems to go on any ground and is hard to assess, but first-time blinkers may galvanise a greater effort from him and he is not discounted. Dark Energy is not out of this at his best, but we prefer the claims of Star Of Germany.
Akram (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) Held up, headway 5th, went 2nd, hard ridden approaching 2 out, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Nortonthorpe Lad (10-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jul '08.
Edgefour (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Towards rear, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders and hit next, never able to challenge, 5th of 14, 10l behind Runaround Sue (10-6) at Hereford 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Dark Energy 20-1 (10-11) Behind, mistake 5th, headway after 3 out, chased leaders before last, soon one pace, 5th of 17, 5l behind Elaala (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Sir Haydn 50-1 (11-1) Mid-division, pulled hard, blundered 5th, soon behind, 10th of 15, well behind Miss Phoebe (11-3) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Jun.
Spiritual Society (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Led until 2nd, chased leaders weakened 9th, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Knapp Bridge Boy (10-0) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
Priest Field (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, behind when blundered last, 13th of 17, 26l behind Elaala (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Zimbabwe 15-8 (11-12) Led, blundered and pulled up soon after 1st, dismounted, in a race won by Batchworth Beau (11-5) at Plumpton 2m clm hdl (5) gd in May '07, 5 ran.
The Snail 11-2 (11-12) Led, headed 6th, driven and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off from 2 out, last of 5, well behind Sam Whiskey (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in May.
Star of Germany (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, paced winner approaching 3 out, ridden approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Kikos (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Tarboush 9-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led after 2nd, ridden approaching 2 out, headed and hit last, one pace flat, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Liberty Seeker (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov chs (4) gf in Jun '04.
Don't Think Twice (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, headway 3 out, driven and weakened next, 4th of 8, 29l behind Breeze Out (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gf in May.
Addicted (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 39l behind Olivino (9-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Champion de Sou (FR) 100-1 (10-12) 5th of 10, 11l behind Sovereign King (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Nov '07.
Feeling (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Prominent, hit 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out, 6th of 13, 22l behind Benetwood (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gf in Jun.
