always behind, tailed off before 3 out
mid-division, headway 4 out, went 3rd before 3 out, weakened from 2 out
always behind, weakened from 4 out, tailed off
behind, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
pulled hard, led and soon clear, headed before 3 out, quickly weakened
tracked clear leader, led before 3 out, jumped right 2 out, well in command when jumped and swerved badly right last and nearly unseated rider, soon headed, ridden and not recover
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, held in 2nd before last, left in lead after last, kept on
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden in 3rd before last, one pace
Hepijeu has been placed on a couple of occasions since joining Charlie Longsdon and he'll be difficult to keep out of the frame here. Almaas caught the eye at Stratford and seems to be getting the hang of things, though will be qualified for handicaps after this. Tricky has won a point-to-point and been placed in a bumper but refused to settle when well beaten on his hurdling debut at Newton Abbot. PRINCE OF POETS was also keen in a Market Rasen bumper last time but looks a promising recruit to hurdles and gets the nod ahead of Jonjo O'Neill's well-bred newcomer Chasing The Light.
Captain Starlight (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Towards rear, some headway 3 out, never on terms, weakened next, pulled up before last, in a race won by San Benedeto (11-1) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May, 11 ran.
Chasing The Light (IRE) King's Theatre gelding out of Starry Lady.
Prairie Hawk (USA) 25-1 (10-12) Led to 2nd, tracked leaders, dropped into mid-division from before 5th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 9, well behind Quinsman (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep '12.
Tricky (IRE) 2-1 (11-0) Took keen hold close up, joined winner 4 out, ridden next, weakened soon after 2 out, 5th of 7, 24l behind Richardofdoccombe (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f NH mdn hdl (4) sft in May.
Xclusive 20-1 (10-11) Took keen hold and held up in rear, pushed along and struggling after 5th, never a factor, last of 5, 32l behind Sadler's Gold (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) gf in Apr.
Black Vale (IRE) 40-1 (9-0) Pushed along and struggling halfway, always in rear, last of 14, 19l behind Shady Mccoy (9-6) at Salisbury 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in May (flat).
Hepijeu (FR) 14-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, took keen hold, steadied 2nd, closed after 4 out, led after 2 out, headed before last, one pace flat, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Hurricane Higgins (10-12) at Aintree 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Jarlath 22-1 (10-8) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, ridden before 2 out, weakened soon after, 6th of 10, well behind Mighty Missile (10-8) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Prince Of Poets 5-1 (11-5) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 10, 7l behind Captain Bocelli (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in May.
Almaas (USA) 28-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, still looked to be going ok when behind 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, never any chance with leaders, 5th of 11, 33l behind San Benedeto (11-1) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
