tracked leaders, bad mistake 6th, stoked along after 9th, ridden to challenge 2 out, led flat, driven right out
held up in last pair, took keen hold, weakened after 9th, tailed off
tracked leaders, challenged approaching 5th, led 3 out, driven and headed last, stayed on, held towards finish
in rear, not fluent 2nd, hampered 6th, struggling to keep up before next, well behind 9th, tailed off
led until after 8th, weakened from next, tailed off
pressed leader, led after 8th, headed when mistake 3 out, 3rd and beaten when jumped right 2 out, weakened flat
Akbabend and Escudero are penalised for previous wins but it's fair to say that both were expected to perform better last time. The former was well beaten here whilst Paul Nicholls' charge failed to take advantage of what looked a straightforward opportunity when sent on the long trek to the Lake District. Both should be in the mix here, but it might be worth chancing SHAKE THE BARLEY on his first outing over hurdles since January 2008. He's been in decent form over fences this year and this is not the first time that Tom George has sent one of his seasoned handicap chasers back over hurdles. Cock Of The Rock is of interest on his hurdling debut after respectable bumper efforts, especially with Tony McCoy inked in for the mount.
Akbabend 5-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders on inside, mistake 6th, ridden after 8th, one pace 3 out, 5th of 12, 18l behind Teenage Kicks (11-0) at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Escudero (IRE) 6-4 (11-5) Tracked leaders, headway to join leader after 7th, led 4 out, joined next, ridden and headed briefly after last, kept on until headed and no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Rival D'estruval (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Ahjayah 20-1 (12-0) Prom; led 7 til hdd & wknd qckly 2 out; poor 2nd when fell last, in a race won by Lismore Lady (11-0) at Kingston Blount 2m 5f ptp gf in May, 6 ran.
Cock Of The Rock (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Close up, went 3rd over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, one pace final 2f, 3rd of 12, 23l behind Awaywiththegreys (10-13) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gd.
Enviromental Dream (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Twrds rr, 11th from 7th until fell 8th, in a race won by Sergeant Dick (12-0) at Dromahane 3m ire ptp gd in May, 13 ran.
Kilbready Star (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) With leader, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 8, 39l behind Vinomore (10-5) at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Shake The Barley (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, hard driven approaching 13th, soon pushed along, weakened before 3 out, rallied approaching last, kept on well, 3rd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Supreme Keano (11-12) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Ringsend Rose (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Raced keenly in touch, led 7th to 11th, chased leaders until weakened 3 out, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Portrait Royale (11-9) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Apr '10.
