chased winner, ridden and no extra from between last 2
prominent in chasing group, reminders after 6th, ridden to chase winner after 2 out until no extra close home
made all, drew clear from 7th easily
in touch, headway 4 out, soon pushed along, stayed on to go second near finish, no chance with winner
towards rear, pushed along 6th, no further progress
prominent in chasing group, fell 4 out
behind, blundered 6th, pulled up before next
Not a strong beginners' chase by any stretch of the imagination and we will take STRIKING ARTICLE to land it with The Shy Man perhaps the main danger. The selection enjoyed a good start to his career, winning a couple of bumpers and completing a hat-trick on his hurdling debut at Wetherby in December. He didn't have it easy thereafter though, being thrashed at Newcastle and he hasn't been seen since being pulled up in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Howard Johnson's string weren't firing too well in the spring, however, so he is better than those two runs suggested and he may well be better than his official mark suggests. With the ground in his favour we'll side with him. The Shy Man is officially rated superior to the selection on hurdles form, though he was well beaten when stepped up in grade at the turn of the year. The ground is a concern with George Moore's runner and for today we'll take him on. Carrietau will love getting his toe in and can go well, but he doesn't look the have the scope of either of the other pair. A win for any of the others would be something of a surprise and Striking Article gets the vote.
Carrietau 12-1 (10-8) Led to 3 out, weakening when hampered 2 out, 7th of 12, 17l behind Moon Star (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in May.
Jamie's Boy (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Held up, mistake 5th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Notre Cyborg (11-3) at Perth 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Sept, 9 ran.
Striking Article (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) In touch until weakened after 5th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Captain Cee Bee (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar, 22 ran.
The Shy Man (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Held up, mistake 7th, effort next, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Battlecry (11-10) at Doncaster 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Jan.
Wise Choice 10-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway 5th to track leaders, weakened between last 2, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Mini Minster (10-5) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in May.
Nevsky Bridge 3-1 (10-5) Held up in touch, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Hawksbury Heights (11-5) at Hexham 2m sll hdl (5) gs.
Pendle Forest (IRE) 250-1 (10-6) Always behind, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by According To Pete (10-12) at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (3) gs, 10 ran.
