close up, ridden and every chance and hit 2 out, led last, driven out
led, headed 6th, ridden, every chance and hit 3 out, weakened next
pulled hard, held up in rear, behind and pulled up 2 out
held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last
close up, jumped slow 7th, soon weakened
held up in rear, reminders 4th, weakened 6th
close up, jumped slow 2nd, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, tracked leader after 5th, led next, ridden and headed last, stayed on
not fluent, held up, ridden and weakened 6th
not jumped well, chased leaders, reluctant 3rd, weakened 6th, behind and pulled up 3 out
Nonrunner
Be Be King had some decent form in bumpers and is probably a good deal better than he showed on his hurdling debut last term but lacks a recent run so preference is for Wee Robbie, who gets the vote ahead of Hobbs Hill. The last mentioned was good value for his wide-margin bumper success at Kempton when last seen and has to be respected on his hurdling debut from a yard that knows how to ready one after an absence. Former point-to-pointer Ballyshan cannot be discounted given his connections, while Delightful Cliche has shown promise but probably lacks the class to win this. Loup Bleu and Blue Hills have place claims but for the winner we side with Wee Robbie, who has decent form in bumpers and made an encouraging hurdling debut when chasing home useful recruit Cruzspiel at Fakenham last month. A reproduction of that effort should suffice for Nick Gifford's gelding.
Be Be King (IRE) 9-4fav (11-1) Held up, headway approaching 9th, ridden when stumbled 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 17, 16l behind Halcon Genelardais (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gs in Mar.
Blue Hills 66-1 (11-2) Mid-division, stayed on approaching last, not trouble leaders, 4th of 16, 27l behind Miss Pebbles (10-9) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (E) gs.
Breuddwyd Lyn 100-1 (11-0) Behind from 5th, tailed off when fell at the last in race won by Unleash (10-7) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (E) gd in Mar '03, 17 ran.
Delightful Cliche 33-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, prominent, mistake 6th, weakened approaching 2 out, mistake last, 4th of 8, 16l behind College Ace (10-12) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (D) gs in Oct.
Mostakbel (USA) 66-1 (11-0) Behind from 6th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Mikado (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (F) gs in Oct, 15 ran.
Novack du Beury (FR) 33-1 (10-7) Always behind, 13th of 14, well behind Two Miles West (11-0) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (C) sft in Oct.
Tashkandi (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Chased leaders until ridden and weakened before 3 out, last of 11, 41l behind Motorway (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Wee Robbie 5-2 (10-12) Held up in touch, jumped slowly 8th, ridden and headway after 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Cruzspiel (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 4f nov hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Alexander Sapphire (IRE) 66-1 (10-2) Behind from halfway, 12th of 13, 49l behind Our Choice (10-12) at W'hampton 1m 6f amt hcp (6) pol (Flat).
Lady Radmore 40-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden after 6th, weakened after next, 12th of 16, well behind Malay (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mrs mdn hdl (F) gd in Apr.
Ballyshan (IRE) (12-0) 2nd of 12, 3l behind Grasia (12-0) at Loughanmore 3m mdn stk gd in Apr '04.
Hobbs Hill 8-1 (11-4) Led after 6f, ridden over 2f out, clear final 2f, very easily, won at Kempton 2m nhf (H) gd in Jan beating Autumn Red (11-4) by 9l, 18 ran.
Loup Bleu (USA) 50-1 (10-12) Prominent, led 5th, headed 7th, weakened approaching 4 out, 4th of 7, 32l behind Cruzspiel (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 4f nov hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Zipalong Lad (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, lost action 7th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Dunbell Boy (11-2) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (F) sft in Oct, 9 ran.
