soon in touch, reminder after 6th, weakened approaching next, well behind when mistake 9th, tailed off and pulled up before last
raced keenly, tracked leader until after 6th, hit 8th, mistake 3 out, not fluent 2 out, switched right approaching last, weakened flat
held up towards rear, headway 7th, challenged approaching 3 out, hung left approaching 2 out and again before last, stayed on under pressure to lead last stride
ran out, held up in rear, headway after 9th, disputing close 4th when ran out through wing 3 out
mid-division, headway to chase leader after 6th, led after 8th, ridden after 2 out, headed last stride
raced keenly, in touch, challenged 9th, weakened approaching 2 out, behind when pulled up before last
in rear, raced wide, hanging left after 9th, soon weakened
chased leaders, outpaced when mistake 3 out, rallied next, went 3rd, no extra flat
led, pushed along 7th, headed after next, soon weakened, tailed off
raced keenly, headway after 3rd, weakened after 7th, pulled up before 8th
Nonrunner
Converti failed to take to fences at Newton Abbot earlier this month and may do better back over hurdles but John Manners' gelding may have to settle for minor honours again with a better option looking to be QUEDILLAC, who gets the vote ahead of Khumbu. The Richard Phillips-trained gelding has shown improved form in novices' hurdles in his last two starts, latterly when chasing home Wolf Moon at Uttoxeter, and a reproduction of that level of form would see him go close. Kim Bailey's Von Galen is capable but has seemingly lost his way of late, while point-to-point winner Bathwick Lucy has more to do under rules today. Criterion comes here fit from the flat but hurdles form in nothing out of the ordinary and a safer option looks to be Quedillac. The five-year-old makes his debut for Tim Vaughan today but the gelding comes here on the back of good form in Irish points, represents a stable that does well with new inmates and he is taken to make a winning rules debut.
Alfie Valentine 7-2 (12-0) 2nd of 14, 7l behind Fox John (12-0) at Andoversford 3m ptp gd in Apr '06.
Blessed Forever (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, weakened 9th, no chance when hampered 3 out, soon eased and pulled up before next, in a race won by Bugsy's Boy (11-7) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar, 7 ran.
Converti 12-1 (10-7) Held up, blundered 1st, not jumped well throughout, lost touch after 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Just Amazing (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f beg chase (5) gf, 6 ran.
Grenoli (FR) 33-1 (12-0) (cp) (ts) wl bhnd til pu 13, in a race won by Saint Reverien (12-8) at Bredwardine 3m ptp in May '08, 12 ran.
Khumbu 4-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 2 out, every chance when blundered last, one pace, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Wolf Moon (11-6) at Uttoxeter 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Lucky Jimmy 25-1 (10-11) Always towards the rear,, 9th of 12, well behind Shacklesborough (11-2) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Von Galen (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, reminded approaching 6th, struggling next, went moderate for closing stages, 4th of 10, 42l behind Vasodilator (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Bathwick Lucy (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) (tt) to & pu 8, in a race won by Sheknowsyouknow (11-7) at Chaddesley Corbett 3m ptp in May, 5 ran.
Bickwell 200-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden approaching 6th, soon weakened, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Sweet Seville (10-7) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs.
Simplyirresistible (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Mid-division, weakened approaching 6th, 6th of 12, 50l behind Hope Road (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs.
Quedillac (FR) 4-5 (12-0) Mid div, 6th 1/2way & prog in 2nd bef 3out, ld bef last where faster jump, so, won at Dawstown 3m ire ptp in May beating Joe Soap (12-0) by 1l, 13 ran.
Criterion 7-1 (10-7) Chased leader, ridden and led after 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on flat, not much winner, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Blazing Desert (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Filly So Fickle 66-1 (10-5) Pulled hard, held up in rear, not fluent 4th, tailed off when pulled up after 6th, in a race won by Toby Belch (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in May '08, 10 ran.
