tracked leaders on inside, led 5th, headed before next, mistake 3 out, weakened before next
held up in touch, lost place 5th, struggling from 8th, tailed off
held up in rear, headway approaching 5th, mistake 8th, went 2nd before 2 out, no chance with winner, blundered last, weakened flat, tailed off
held up in rear, headway approaching 5th, weaknened before 8th, pulled up before 3 out
led after 1st, not fluent 4th, headed next, led again before next, not fluent 3 out, clear 2 out, sauntered home
led until after 1st, prominent, jumped right 3rd, not fluent 7th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 1st, lost place 6th, some headway approaching 2 out, no impression
held up in rear, headway approaching 8th, went 3rd before 2 out, no chance with winner when pressing for 2nd last and mistake, one pace
not fluent, prominent until 6th, tailed off 8th, soon pulled up
Nebula Storm, who once ran Fame And Glory to half-a-length on the Flat, was sent off at odds-on for a modest contest at Newton Abbot last month but could only manage a one-paced third. He may have learned from the experience but is starting to look a risky proposition. We much prefer RENDL BEACH, who was bought out of Peter Niven's yard after winning a couple of bumpers at Musselburgh at the end of last year. He makes his hurdling debut for Rebecca Curtis here. Al Alfa has won between the flags while Winds Of War was second at Hereford back in January but is pretty much exposed now. Halifax was a decent stayer on the Flat for Mark Johnston and is worth watching here for future reference now he's with a very shrewd NH trainer.
Al Alfa 13-2 (11-4) Led, headed over 5f out, soon ridden, lost 2nd over 4f out, dropped to 4th 3f out, weakened, tailed off, 4th of 9, 36l behind Whisper (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m nhf (6) gd in Apr.
Glenford Dorie 125-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, tailed off over 4f out, last of 14, well behind Nelson's Bridge (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Dec.
Nebula Storm (IRE) 10-11fav (10-11) Took keen hold, held up in touch, plenty to do when pushed along after 3 out, went 3rd last, kept on flat, never able to challenge, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Surprise Us (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f 4yo mdn stks (5) sft in Sep.
Nomadic Dreamer 8-13 (12-0) Led 10 til blun & ur 3 out, in a race won by Classic Fly (12-0) at Andoversford 3m ptp gd in Apr, 3 ran.
Rendl Beach (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, kept on well, won at Musselburgh 2m NH flat (6) gs in Dec beating Makari (10-11) by 2l, 13 ran.
Winds Of War (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, every chance after 3 out, not fluent last, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind The Tatkin (11-11) at Hereford 3m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
Alberobello (IRE) Old Vic gelding out of Tourist Attraction.
Halifax (IRE) 3-1fav (9-3) Slowly into stride, held up last, good headway in centre over 2f out, effort over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, upsides when driven and hung right close home, just failed, 2nd of 10, ns behind Seaside Sizzler (10-0) at Warwick 1m 7f hcp (4) gf in Sep '11 (flat).
Charlies Lady 100-1 (10-0) Pressed winner until after 5th, weakened approaching 7th, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Jewellery (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f Mares Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (4yo+) (5) gd in Sep.
To Be Frank 40-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, behind from 5th, tailed off before 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Battlecat (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep, 9 ran.
