always prominent, led 9th, drew clear from 2 out, easily
always behind, struggling when mistake 7th, tailed off next, pulled up before 9th
led, reminders after 6th, headed 9th, weakened 2 out
held up, progress 8th, weakened after 9th, tailed off
prominent, ridden approaching 9th, weakened 3 out
pulled hard towards rear, mistake 6th, struggling when mistake 7th, well behind when pulled up before 8th
in touch, chased winner when mistake 3 out, soon ridden, not fluent 2 out, no impression
towards rear, jumped slowly 7th, mistake 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off
took keen hold, raced in mid-division on outside, headway after 6th, weakened after 8th, tailed off
mid-division, pushed along after 6th, no impression from 8th
Nonrunner
Backbord gets a solid shout here ahead of Big John Maccarty and whatever the betting market suggests. Backbord has shown good form in his hurdling career to date, winning once and finishing a very good second to Predator at Ascot last time. For us he is the one to beat. Big John Macarty showed improvement when stepped up in trip on good to firm last time and, with some more improvement likely, he can go well again. Ricardo's Chance's win last time came in a seller, while River Indus's form is comparable although it has come in chases. Mocho has been allotted a rating of 101 and, if the assessor is correct, he has to be given some thought. As with the others, the market might provide some clues but the selection has to be Backbord.
Backbord (GER) 11-2jt-fav (10-2) Towards rear, headway approaching 8th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd flat, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Predator (10-8) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Mar.
Ain't No Sunshine (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, tailed off final 3f, 16th of 19, well behind Alternator (11-0) at Warwick 2m nhf (6) hvy in Dec.
Big John Macarty (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Not jumped well in rear, well behind 3 out, 7th of 11, 41l behind Back On Line (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Mar.
Hidden Jem (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Held up, effort 9th, weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Golden Parachute (10-11) at Uttoxeter 3m mdn hdl (4) gf in Mar, 13 ran.
Just Playfull 50-1 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden halfway, soon struggling, 10th of 14, 23l behind Appleaday (10-11) at Ludlow 2m nhf (4) gs in Dec.
Quantock Venture 100-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, weakened after 4th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Khasab (11-4) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
River Indus 9-4fav (9-12) In touch, mistake 6th, chased winner from 5 out, in vain from 4 out, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Poppy Maroon (10-8) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Tetbury (IRE) Saddlers' Hall gelding out of a lightly-raced mare.
Worth Abbey 200-1 (10-13) Chased leaders until 6th, soon weakened, beaten when pulled up 2 out in race won by Lead On (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 14 ran.
Devon Blue (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Mid-division, mistake 1st, ridden and weakened 6th, mistake next, 6th of 14, 21l behind Hendre Hotshot (10-9) at N Abbot 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) gf.
Ricardo's Chance 14-1 (11-1) Towards rear, ridden 4 out, headway after 3 out, led soon after 2 out, pecked last, pushed out, won at Hereford 2m 4f nov sll hdl (5) gf in Mar beating Left Hand Drive (10-12) by 5l, 13 ran.
Go On Jack 14-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders until ridden and weakened 7f out, 15th of 16, well behind Lord Alyn (11-4) at Worcester 2m nhf (H) gd in Jul '03.
Il Potere (IRE) 15-2 (11-1) In touch, ridden after 7th, soon well behind, tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind Gabier (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Mocho (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 5th, weakened 8th, 10th of 15, well behind Shouldhavehadthat (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f mdn hdl (3) gd in Mar.
