held up, headway approaching 5th, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, headed flat, no extra
held up, hit 2nd, outpaced 3 out, chased leaders next, no extra from last
held up mid-division, chased leaders from 3rd, no extra flat
tracked leaders and keen, hit 1st, rider lost iron, fell 3rd
led, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace from last
held up in rear, struggling from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Astracad made a very promising racecourse debut for Nigel Twiston-Davies when chasing home Soldier Bay at Ffos Las last month and he is bound to be popular with backers but it may be worth taking a chance with hurdling newcomer BOTHY, who gets the vote ahead of Al Qeddaaf. Don McCain's gelding unseated his rider at the first flight on his hurdling debut at Market Rasen earlier this form but he had shown progressive form on the level prior to that and should have no problems with the underfoot conditions. Devil To Pay struggled against the handicapper on the flat following his win at Goodwood in May and may find the ground softer than ideal on his first start for Alan King on his hurdles debut. Lively Fling won a handicap at Windsor over 1m4f on his final start for John Gosden when racing off a mark of 84 and has to be of interest on his first start over timber for Venetia Williams but he was better on a faster surface on the level and may have to settle for minor honours. The vote then goes the way of Brian Ellison's Bothy who was relatively lightly raced on the flat after just four starts but showed his best form with cut in the ground and he is taken to make a winning start to his hurdling career.
Al Qeddaaf (IRE) 2-1 (10-12) Mistake and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Sergeant Pink (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) sft, 5 ran.
Astracad (FR) 6-1 (10-7) Led, ran green and lost place 7f out, remained prominent, rallied over 2f out, every chance approaching final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Soldier Bay (10-12) at Ffos Las 1m 6f 3yo nhf (6) gd in Nov.
Bothy 7-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 15, 2 1/4l behind Fastnet Storm (8-10) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct (flat).
Devil To Pay 12-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, never dangerous, 11th of 14, 11l behind Crocus Rose (8-7) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct (flat).
Dubai Creek (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Slowly away, behind, pushed along 4f out, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 13, 6l behind At Wits End (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Oct (flat).
King's Counsel (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Led, headed approaching 4th, driven and one pace from 3 out, 5th of 13, 14l behind Kudu Country (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs.
Lively Fling (USA) 6-1 (9-4) Soon led, ridden over 3f out, headed narrowly 2f out, soon driven, rallied to lead again final strides, all out, won at Windsor 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Oct beating Souter Point (9-3) by nk, 5 ran (flat).
Arabian Silk (IRE) 15-2 (8-6) Held up, some headway over 2f out, never reached leaders, 6th of 13, 12l behind Zaif (9-4) at Brighton 1m 4f app hcp 0-55 (6) gd in Oct (flat).
Valentine Bay 200-1 (10-8) Behind, jumped badly right and slowly 3rd, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Veiled (10-8) at Leicester 2m juv fll nov hdl (3yo) (3) gf.
