in rear, jumped left and not always fluent, never going that well, always behind
prominent, led 4th until not fluent 6th, lost place before 3 out
led until 4th, led 6th, headed 3 out, led last, hung left flat, bumped rival towards finish, stayed on
tracked leaders, lost place after 3rd, closed after 6th, outpaced 2 out, kept on flat, went 4th towards finish, no impression
prominent on outside until 3rd, chased leaders, led 3 out, headed 2 out, beaten flat, no extra and lost 4th towards finish
prominent on inside, ridden and lost place before 2 out
mid-division, not fluent and lost place 3rd, headway before 3 out, led 2 out, headed last, carried left flat, not much room and bumped towards finish, held close home
held up in touch in mid-division, lost place 3 out
held up in rear, pushed along after 9th, effort when jumped left 2 out, 5th and no impression when pecked last
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 8th, went 3rd and edged left flat, pressing for 2nd when bumped towards finish, held close home
Kloud Gate has never raced over a trip this far but arrives on a hat-trick after a couple of victories at Huntingdon last month. Hotter Than Hell may also be better over shorter trips but did place off a higher mark at Haydock in April and looks better treated than Haul Away. Story Of Friends ran well returning from a break at Plumpton but then stopped quickly over this trip at Hexham. Proper Ticket has been lightly raced and it’s no surprise to see him back over hurdles having failed to take to fences here last month but TASTE THE FEAR appears to have got his act together and a mark of 120 on handicap debut looks manageable.
Proper Ticket (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Close up, tracked leaders 10th, pushed along 4 out, weakened last, 4th of 5, 33 3/4l behind Eglantine Du Seuil (10-5) at Worcester 2m 7f (4) gd in May.
Dolciano Dici (FR) 20-1 (11-11) Mid-division, struggling from 8th, well beaten 4 out, 10th of 12, dist behind Geordie Des Champs (11-5) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) gs in May.
Haul Away (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Pressed leader, disputed lead 4 out, ridden behind leader 2 out, stayed on flat, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Do Not Disturb (11-2) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in May.
Asockastar (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Disputed lead, dropped back after 3rd but remained prominent, dropped towards rear by halfway, lost touch after jumping 9th, last of 13, dist behind South Terrace (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Story Of Friends (FR) 9-2 (12-0) Chased leaders on inside, not fluent 3 out, ridden and weakened final bend, 7th of 8, 25 1/4l behind Ever So Much (10-1) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
The Vollan (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Just better than midfield, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, no impact from 2 out, 7th of 11, dist behind Forgot To Ask (11-5) at Market Rasen 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Taste The Fear (IRE) 7-4 (11-8) Towards rear, closer and tracked leaders after the 5th, not fluent 6th, ridden and made strong challenge 2 out, every chance last, landed in-front and kept on gamely to assert closing stages, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f (4) gd in Jun beating Every Breakin Wave (11-2) by 6l, 6 ran.
Hotter Than Hell (FR) 2-1fav (11-11) Held up in touch behind leaders on inside, not fluent 6th, ridden and struggling after 3 out, 5th of 7, 25 1/2l behind Rosy World (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in May.
Kloud Gate (FR) 9-2 (11-10) In touch, headway and switched left approaching 2 out, led and hit 2 out, ridden and ran on, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May beating Some Detail (11-12) by 5 1/2l, 7 ran.
Bond's Lover (IRE) 15-2 (12-0) Held up in touch behind leaders, lost place 3 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before 2 out, at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in May.
