in touch, lost place after 6th, weakened 9th, mistake 3 out, tailed off
led, blundered 4th, ridden approaching 7th, headed before next, weakened approaching 9th, tailed off
mid-division, struggling 7th, no chance when hung left last
in rear, mistake 3rd, struggling 8th, pulled up after next
mid-division, headway 7th, ridden before 3 out, one pace
prominent, went 2nd 5th until ridden after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, mistake 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 9th, ridden and carried head high well before 3 out, soon gave up, mistake last
pressed leader, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 4th, pushed along when lost 2nd next, weakened 9th
prominent, raced keenly, reminder after 6th, led approaching 8th, headed 9th, soon weakened, eased
not always fluent, always behind
tracked leaders, raced keenly, went 2nd after 7th, led 9th, headed 3 out, stayed on under pressure flat
behind, pushed along 3rd, went modest 6th 3 out, went 4th after last, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, challenged going well 9th, led 3 out, idled flat, driven out
held up, headway after 6th, mistake 7th, soon weakened, tailed off
Montana Gold is relatively lightly raced over hurdles and he has to be considered on his reappearance off a career low mark but Jamie Snowden's gelding needs to improve on all known form to trouble the judge and a safer option looks to be THIRTYTHREEBLACK, who gets the verdict ahead of Gan Eagla. The Evan Williams-trained gelding showed better form in a selling handicap at Plumpton last month and he may do better now racing on a softer surface. Formerly with Neil Mulholland, Sir Bumble now makes his debut for Andy Haynes but would need to improve for the switch in stables to trouble the judge, while Champagne Star has yet to even be placed in any of his seven starts and looks best watched. Needle Prick has slipped to a decent mark and has to be considered for Nigel Twiston-Davies but preference is for Thirtythreeblack. David Pipe's gelding won well when successful at Uttoxeter in July and has been mainly disappointing since then but the slower ground today should help and he can resume winning ways.
Go Free 10-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden after 4th, weakened approaching 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Telegonus (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hdl (5) gd in Sep, 16 ran.
Gan Eagla (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Ridden to lead, and soon clear, pushed along and not keen after 5th, ridden before 3 out, narrowly headed when bumped 2 out, one pace approaching last, kept on well flat, went 3rd last stride, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Jafaru (11-7) at Plumpton 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Sep.
Williamtown Lad (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) 18th of 21, well behind Rocheford Bridge (11-2) at Cork 2m hcp hdl gd in Apr '08.
Grave Doubts 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 14, 48l behind Phoenix Des Mottes (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jun.
Montana Gold (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 23l behind Particle (11-1) at Worcester 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Jun.
Champagne Star 100-1 (10-5) Towards rear, ridden approaching 7th, always in rear, 6th of 13, well behind Baddam (11-5) at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Thirtythreeblack (IRE) 4-1fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, some late headway, never nearer, 6th of 11, 15l behind Amazing Valour (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
Needle Prick (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Always in rear, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Kavi (11-7) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Sep.
King Rocky 20-1 (10-12) In touch, jumped slowly 3rd, pushed along and lost place after 7th, no impression after, 8th of 17, 26l behind Orchard King (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Aug.
Quaystone Lady (IRE) 66-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, ridden next, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 12, 21l behind Synonymy (10-6) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Sep.
Sir Bumble (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) In rear, mistake 5th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Beshairt (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 4f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Apr, 18 ran.
Jug Of Punch (IRE) 22-1 (11-2) Soon behind, tailed off when pulled up after 7th, in a race won by Cloudier (11-9) at Stratford 2m 6f sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Sep, 16 ran.
Watch Out 12-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, jumped right 3rd, headway 9th, outpaced 3 out, switched right approaching 2 out, went 4th before last, no chance with leading trio, 4th of 16, 13l behind Cloudier (11-9) at Stratford 2m 6f sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Sep.
Whatalotofbuts 66-1 (10-1) Took keen hold, prominent until lost place 5th, soon struggling in rear, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind The Good Guy (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gf.
