held up last, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened quickly
held up towards rear, headway and chased leader 3 out, ridden and led soon after 2 out, stayed on well from last
prominent, ridden and mistake 3 out, soon weakened
held up last, weakened 6th, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, good headway on bit approaching 3 out, not fluent 3 out, weakened quickly after
held up towards rear, led 3 out, headed and switched right 2 out, kept on one pace
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
led to 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, weakening when mistake last
chased leader, led 4th, headed 3 out, rallied and hit 2 out, stayed on well from last, not reached winner
mid-division, mistake 2nd, weakened 5th, pulled up after 6th
prominent, ridden 5th, weakened before 3 out
Craven had his colours lowered by Idris at Huntingdon last time but that was no disgrace for Nicky Henderson's gelding and he looks to have been found a suitable opportunity to resume winning ways so is taken to score at the main expense of Chelsea Bridge and Keenan's Future. The last mentioned made a winning start to his hurdling career in the mud at Wetherby last month and has to be respected but he looks a chaser in the making and may find the selection too speedy for him. Jonjo O'Neill's Worcester bumper winner Briscoe Place has yet to race over hurdles so may be best watched. The Richard Phillips-trained Corals Laurel showed plenty of promise in bumpers but has yet to translate his form in that sphere over hurdles, while Rare Gold would need to improve on the form of his Plumpton debut to trouble the selection. Henrietta Knight's Chelsea Bridge has not been seen since beating the high class Trabolgan in a Kempton bumper in February 2003 and it is impossible to know how much ability he retains after such a long absence so a safer bet looks to be Craven. Nicky Henderson's gelding has shown solid form in all three starts and a reproduction of any of those efforts should suffice.
Craven (IRE) 6-5fav (11-11) In touch, effort to lead last, soon headed, no extra, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Idris (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Keenan's Future (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, led 2 out, ridden clear from last, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Jan beating Seymar Lad (11-6) by 14l, 10 ran.
Briscoe Place (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway 5f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 19, 14l behind Leading Contender (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m nhf lst (A) gs in Nov.
Call Out (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) won at Trebudannon 2m 4f ptp sft in Apr beating Tight Corner (12-0) by 2l, 8 ran.
Chelsea Bridge (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 4f out, pressed leader final furlong, ran on well to lead close home, won at Kempton 2m nhf (H) gd in Feb '03 beating Trabolgan (11-2) by a nk, 19 ran.
Corals Laurel (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Held up and keen, headway approaching 5th, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 10, 15l behind Keenan's Future (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Jan.
How Is The Lord (IRE) 150-1 (11-6) Always behind, mistake 5th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Be Be King (11-10) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
Idbury (IRE) 50-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, weakening when mistake 5th, tailed off when pulled up at the 6th in race won by Teeton Babysham (11-6) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Merriott's Oscar (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) 2nd of 15, 8l behind Mokujin (11-7) at Woodford 3m ptp sft in Apr.
Rare Gold (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 8th, hit 3 out, went 2nd before last, no impression, 2nd of 13, 12l behind Dunsfold Duke (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Valderrama 100-1 (10-11) Led to halfway, weakened quickly 6f out pulled up in race won by Pepporoni Pete (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nhf (H) gd in Dec, 17 ran.
Sparkling Sabrina 50-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, went moderate 3rd approaching 3 out, no chance with front two, 3rd of 13, 31l behind Harringay (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs nov hdl D) gd in Dec.
Sir Bathwick (IRE) Oscar gelding out of bumper winner Karenda.
