held up towards rear, never dangerous
held up towards rear, some headway and jumped slow 3 out, one pace from next
tracked leaders, kept on from 2 out
tracked leaders lost place after 4 out
held up mid-division, weakened after 4 out
held up, blundered 3 out, never dangerous
took keen hold in rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened last
held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on from last
held up, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, led 2 out, driven out
close up and keen, weakened 4 out
held up in mid-division, headway 3rd, kept on same pace from last
held up towards rear, weakened 4 out
led, ridden and headed 2 out, weakening when not fluent last
DEFINITE ALL STAR is the percentage call although the likes of Spiritual Guidance and Secret Stash could cause some problems if finding some improvement. The selection hails from a yard that was successful at the last meeting here and he can be expected to improve from his initial experience of hurdling at Leopardstown. The form of his two runs in bumpers is reasonable without being out of the ordinary, although the maiden hurdle in which he ran was given a boost when the experienced second took the prestigious MCR Hurdle. Better was expected from Spiritual Guidance in a Warwick bumper but he failed to feature and connections have wasted no time in sending him jumping; it will be interesting to see if his supporters come back for more. Secret Stash had a quiet hurdling debut but his bumper form suggests that he could be a factor if he can step up on that run whilst Fleur De Vassy should win races over obstacles when the penny drops. Megabill and Rebel Dancer are others with possibilities but preference is for Definite All Star.
Books Review 66-1 (10-12) Always behind, ridden 4th, soon struggling, tailed off, 11th of 16, 41l behind On Borrowed Wings (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Calon Crwbin 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division until 5f, soon tailed off, pulled up 3f out, in a race won by Mail De Bievre (10-9) at Exeter 1m 5f 3yo nhf (5) sft in Dec '08, 15 ran.
Definite All Star (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, headway in 4th 2 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no extra before last, kept on same pace, 6th of 26, 7l behind Dr Whizz (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m mdn hdl in Dec.
Kensington Oval 20-1 (11-5) Held up, never dangerous, 11th of 14, well behind No Rules (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft.
Max's Choice (IRE) 150-1 (10-13) Soon close up, 4th under pressure and no chance with front trio from 3 out, weakened and lost moderate 4th 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 11, well behind Ghizao (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Megabill (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway over 4f out, pushed along over 3f out, no impression on leaders, 5th of 10, 18l behind Tzora (10-10) at Hereford 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Rebel Dancer (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, some headway from 3 out, never dangerous, 6th of 13, 24l behind Salden Licht (11-10) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Secret Stash (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 12th of 15, 42l behind Rollwiththepunches (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) sft.
Spiritual Guidance (IRE) 5-2fav (11-2) Pulled hard in touch, weakened 2f out, 7th of 16, 16l behind Chartreux (10-13) at Warwick 2m NH flat (6) sft in Dec.
Taffy Thomas 66-1 (10-12) Behindpushed along and headway approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 5th of 16, 10l behind On Borrowed Wings (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Fleur de Vassy 14-1 (11-3) Prominent, weakened approaching 9th, 6th of 7, well behind Evella (11-3) at Plumpton 2m 5f mares NH nov hdl (4) sft.
Martha Elizabeth (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, weakened 4 out, 15th of 18, 48l behind Truxton King (11-7) at Listowel 2m 4yo mdn hdl gd in Sep.
Catchmeifyoucan (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, blundered next, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Advisor (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Gulf Of Aqaba (USA) 14-1 (9-8) Dwelt, behind, eased over 2f out, 9th of 10, 44l behind Greenbelt (9-4) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs (flat).
