chased leaders, ridden to challenge 2 out, soon led, hit last, headed flat, kept on
led, headed briefly after 3rd, jumped badly right 4th, ridden and under pressure 2 out, led flat, ridden out
held up, ridden approaching 3 out, weakening when fell 2 out
held up, behind, mistake 3rd, weakened from next, tailed off
mid-division, hampered by lose horse, blundered and unseated rider
prominent, mistake 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden and weakened from 2 out
held up, headway 5th, ridden and weakened 2 out
always behind, weakened from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before last
prominent, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, well held when unseated rider last
behind when blundered and unseated rider 2nd
pulled up, chased leaders, saddle soon slipped, led briefly 3rd, pulled up soon after
Parknasilla may be up to defying a penalty over newcomers Albany and Tidy, with Kristoffersen not entirely out of it. All eyes here will no doubt be on Howard Johnson's Albany, yet another purchase from the Flat by Graham Wylie, having won a couple of times on fast ground at Haydock for Lynda Ramsden. He has yet to jump a twig in public though, and is best watched, with preference for Parknasilla who bids to follow up a debut success over timber at Leicester last month. He showed plenty of resolution to battle home in the soft ground that day, and although having to shoulder a penalty, is thought capable of following up en-route to a possible tilt at the Triumph Hurdle. His only win on the level came on the all-weather at Southwell, form that is probably not quite as good as that of Albany, but he has the edge in experience over hurdles and that could prove decisive. Tidy and Middleham Park both make their debuts over hurdles and would be worth noting if either attracted support in the ring, while Kristoffersen, part-owned by Sir Clement Freud, takes a further drop in grade after running at Kempton and Sandown. He failed badly last time but shaped well enough on his Kempton debut, overcoming a first-flight blunder to finish third behind Tarque. That is not bad form, and he can make the frame, but for the winner we return to Parknasilla under Richie McGrath.
