in touch, ridden after 8, soon behind, pulled up after 3 out
mid-division, headway 5th, weakened quickly 9th, pulled up before next
held up, steady headway 10th, ridden in close 3rd 2 out, weakened last
led until after 9th, soon driven, weakened 3 out
chased leader until jumped slowly and lost place 7th, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, pressed winner 2 out, every chance last, no extra
chased leaders, led after 9th, ridden and headed after 3 out, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway 10th, chance when not fluent 3 out, weakened next
went left 1st, mid-division, headway 10th, effort after 3 out, weakened after next
soon struggling in rear, headway 10th, weakened 3 out
tracked leader, led after 3 out, soon hard pressed and ridden, stayed on, ridden out
hampered 1st, mid-division, struggling from 9th, soon behind
Abragante gets the vote here ahead of Minella Tipperary and Cool Roxy. The selection was a fair third in a better race than this at Haydock last time on ground that was more testing than he would ideally like. He had been given a big hike in the weights prior to that run so it was a respectable effort and he can resume winning ways today. Minella Tipperary rates the main danger as he has been running consistently well and he was a decent second behind Master Eddy at Newbury last time. He is another that has taken a steep rise in the weights but this course and distance winner should still be up to making the frame here. Cool Roxy reverts to hurdles after winning in impressive fashion when beating Herecomestanley over the bigger obstacles last time out. He has his ground conditions today but chasing looks to be his game these days and for that reason he is passed over. Present Glory could go well at a big each-way price as he represents a stable in red hot form, but he has been off the track for over a year and the market may prove a good guide to his chance. This is a competitive handicap hurdle to close the card and we will nominate Abragante as the selection.
Royal Paradise (FR) 66-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, lost place before next, 22nd of 28, 26l behind Burntoakboy (9-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs.
Liberman (IRE) 50-1 (10-2) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Desert Tommy (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct, 16 ran.
Abragante (IRE) 13-2jt-fav (10-0) Mid-division, headway 7th, stayed on from 2 out, 3rd of 20, 14l behind Millenium Royal (11-5) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Quick 33-1 (11-6) Led until 7th, gradually faded, 10th of 16, 49l behind Copsale Lad (11-7) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Feb.
Mikado 50-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, lost place approaching 3 out, soon ridden stayed on from last, 9th of 16, 11l behind Taranis (10-3) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb.
Cool Roxy 3-1 (11-9) Jumped well, made all, joined briefly 12th, clear next, ran on, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd beating Herecomestanley (11-8) by 8l, 5 ran.
Minella Tipperary (IRE) Evensfav (11-13) Led 2nd, headed approaching 2 out, soon no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 16l behind Master Eddy (11-3) at Newbury 3m nh nov hdl (3) sft.
Nobel (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 5th of 11, 33l behind Brave Vision (10-3) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Reem Two 7-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden from 6th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 8, 9l behind Theatre Diva (11-7) at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Present Glory (IRE) 3-1fav (11-10) Led, ridden 4 out, tried to run out and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Knighton Lad (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Feb '06, 13 ran.
Make It A Double (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) In touch, headway to chase leaders after 4 out, ridden and weakened after next, 7th of 12, 19l behind Gala Evening (10-11) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
