pressed leader until after 6th, jumped slowly next, soon weakened, tailed off
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened flat
held up in rear, raced keenly, headway 3 out, switched right after 2 out, one pace flat
held up towards rear, effort approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, pushed along after 6th, lost place after 9th, stayed on flat, no danger
held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, headway after 9th, driven 2 out, soon beaten
held up in rear, headway from 3 out, hanging left after last, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no impression on winner
mid-division, well beaten before 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 2 out, mistake last, weakened flat
held up towards rear, headway 8th, ridden next, weakened approaching 2 out
led, not fluent 5th, headed 3 out, weakening when blundered badly and rider lost irons last
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, went 2nd after next, led 3 out, driven clear when edged left flat, stayed on well
CLOUDIER heads our shortlist for division one of the handicap hurdle, with due consideration also given to Amazing Valour and Sweet As Pye. A winner on debut for Tim Vaughan, Cloudier should get this step up in trip, and being top weight didn't hamper her last time out, albeit in a lower grade. Kielder Rise is the joint top rated, but has been disappointing in her two outings this year. Amazing Valour is only two pounds higher than his mark when winning at Exeter last year. He's been in the grip of the handicapper, but grabbed a place last time out at Uttoxeter over this trip, and there no doubts about his stamina or the fast ground. Sweet As Pye has been well beaten on her last three outings, all of which have been here, and there have been some doubts as to whether she can stay the distance, and this is a step up in trip. However, this is faster ground than she's faced before, and that could make all the difference. Synonymy won over 2 miles 6 back in the summer, but has been pulled up in his last couple of outings which have been over further. None of these are world beaters and few are showing much decent form, but marginal preference is for Cloudier.
Kielder Rise 28-1 (10-5) Close up, led 2nd, headed soon after, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 11, 50l behind High Gales (11-5) at Hereford 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Cloudier 15-2 (11-9) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway 9th, led 2 out, driven out, won at Stratford 2m 6f sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf beating Telegonus (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Aspolan (GER) 20-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 7th, not clear run and switched right approaching 2 out where not fluent, no impression on leaders, 4th of 12, 8l behind King Ozzy (11-3) at Stratford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jul.
Good Parade (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway halfway, soon chasing leaders, led 3 out, headed next, soon weakened, 6th of 16, 21l behind Deadline (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Amazing Valour (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway approaching 2 out, outpaced after 2 out, stayed on from over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, took 3rd last strides, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Peters Star (10-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Think Lucky 4-1 (11-9) Held up, ridden approaching 12th, behind from next, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Shammy Buskins (10-5) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.
Grand Bay (USA) 8-1 (11-0) Prominent, hit 5th, soon driven, weakened 3 out, 13th of 14, well behind Weather Front (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug.
Tavalu (USA) 22-1 (10-11) Held up, some late headway, never dangerous, 5th of 11, 15l behind Home (10-6) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug.
Sweet As Pye 9-2 (10-5) Tracked winner, challenged 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Blacktoft (10-12) at Worcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jul.
Quaystone Lady (IRE) 100-1 (10-1) Held up in touch, chased leaders halfway, lost place 4 out, soon beaten, 6th of 7, well behind Pilgrims Lane (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gd.
Ray's Round 100-1 (10-2) Raced wide, in rear, reminder after 4th, mistake next, tailed off 7th, 9th of 13, well behind Baddam (11-5) at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Synonymy 14-1 (10-2) Soon held up in touch, weakened after 8th, tailed off 3 out and soon pulled up, in a race won by Knock Em Dead (11-5) at Newton Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Aug, 8 ran.
