held up towards rear, headway and not much room on bend after 3 out, ridden to chase leaders after next, weakened last
mid-division, headway approaching 9th, challenged on bit 2 out, led last, ridden soon after, no extra and headed towards finish
mid-division until 8th
led until 5th, tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, weakening when switched left approaching last
raced wide, chased leaders until weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, pecked 9th, effort after 3 out, weakened approaching last, eased
always behind
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, soon ridden and edged left, narrowly headed last, hard ridden and rallied gamely, led towards finish
mid-division until weakened after 3 out
always towards rear
mid-division until dropped rear 8th, ridden and headway after 3 out, stayed on from next
mid-division, ridden and headway 9th, went 4th approaching 2 out, stayed on
mid-division, headway after 3 out, soon ridden, went 3rd briefly approaching last, no extra
tracked leaders, hit 9th, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
tracked leader, led 5th, clear next, ridden approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, one pace from last
tracked leaders, outpaced and lost place 3 out, stayed on again approaching last
Nonrunner
NIKOS EXTRA can round things off on a high here at the main expense of Sarde, Bring Me Sunshine, Cruchain and Make Haste. So a lengthy shortlist indicates the competitive nature of this contest, but top-weight Nikos Extra could prove to be the class act. He contested a race won by Punchestowns last time and wasn't disgraced in fourth. Raised 2lbs for that run, it may not be enough to stop this ex-French winning his third hurdles race in this country. Busker Royal fell last time and needs to prove that his confidence has gone unaffected, whilst Cruchain ran a much better race last time and obviously improved for his first run of the season. Templer's form has tailed off but along with Harris Bay the feeling is that he is nicely handicapped if putting it all in. Cathedral Rock and Make Haste come here on the back of placed efforts, whilst Alaghiraar represents a stable absolutely flying. Giovanna and Bring Me Sunshine are two more for consideration, whilst Sarde heads the list of dangers following a fine second to the progressive Ballydub. A fair race, with preference for Nikos Extra.
Nikos Extra (FR) 20-1 (10-7) Raced keenly, mid-division, in touch from 4th, ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace last, 4th of 19, 9l behind Punchestowns (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Nov.
Busker Royal 9-1 (11-12) Soon tracking leaders, hit 6th, close 3rd when fell 2 out in race won by Sunnyhillboy (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 19 ran.
Sarde (FR) 16-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on from next, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 17, 5l behind Ballydub (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
At The Money 16-1 (11-4) Chased leader, led 3 out, hit 2 out, headed between last 2, weakened before last, 5th of 19, 12l behind Mister Gloss (11-7) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Bring Me Sunshine (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, 1 length down last, kept on, 2nd of 14, 1l behind I'm A Legend (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Templer (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden after 5th, soon behind, 13th of 14, well behind Ned Ludd (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Helm (IRE) 17-2 (9-12) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Millenium Royal (11-5) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb '07, 20 ran.
Cruchain (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, soon ridden, went 3rd approaching last, stayed on, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Take The Breeze (11-4) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Penny Pictures (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, ridden and no headway when fell 3 out in race won by Andytown (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Nov, 22 ran.
Alaghiraar (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, hit 4th, led and hit 6th, ridden when blundered last, soon headed and hung left, no extra, 4th of 14, 4l behind Busker Royal (11-9) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Make Haste (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, left 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 18, 8l behind Frontier Dancer (10-12) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Cathedral Rock (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) In touch, blundered 6th, mistake 8th, lost place 12th, jumped slow 2 out, took poor 3rd, last, 3rd of 6, 30l behind Cool Roxy (11-9) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Oct.
Giovanna 16-1 (9-9) Held up, hit 5th, stayed on on long run in, never near to challenge, 5th of 15, 13l behind Schindlers Son (10-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in May.
Harris Bay 16-1 (10-6) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 11th of 19, 32l behind Mister Gloss (11-7) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Rebel Melody (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Led, headed after 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 15, 32l behind Heathcliff (10-4) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Pocketwood 3-1 (11-4) Chased leader, led 2nd, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 10, 13l behind I'm A Legend (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Isle de Maurice 40-1 (10-4) In rear, driven along after 3 out, never a factor, 9th of 19, 24l behind Mister Gloss (11-7) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
