towards rear, headway after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on flat
mid-division, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, effort between last 2, no extra flat
towards rear, headway 3 out, effort after next, stayed on to chase winner flat
mid-division, pushed along 3 out, ridden and no impression from next
tracked leaders, led 4 out, stayed on strongly
tracked leaders, left in lead 3rd, headed 4 out, no extra approaching last
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression
always behind
tracked leaders, headway and every chance 2 out, every chance last, faded flat
always behind
prominent, ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
led, blundered and unseated rider 3rd
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
behind from halfway, tailed off when pulled up before last
MANEKI NEKO gained his first hurdling success when last seen and is fancied to add to it here at the main expense of Seeyaaj and Nodform William. The selection has gone up 11lbs to a mark of 108 today which looks a tad harsh but he was impressive when disposing of Solway Bay at Cartmel. Rated in the high 60's on the flat, this decent dual-performer should be at home on this ground and gets the vote. Jordan's Light has shown some ability in three runs over hurdles this year and has usual pilot Ryan Mania on board once again, whilst Orang Outan and Florentino are course and distance winners. Another familiar with the track is Seeyaaj, Lucinda Russell's gelding. Seen solely over fences this season, the form of his recent third behind Glingerbank reads well and he looks primed to win off this lower hurdles mark. Thistle represents a canny new trainer, whilst Parsou and Armaguedon are capable of better than we have seen recently. Springvic and Monsieur both found one too good on their last runs, and we will take that to occur again as we select Maneki Neko.
Calculaite 20-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 3 out, 3rd and staying on when blundered badly next, not recover, 7th of 10, 18l behind Baguenaud (11-0) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Sept.
Seeyaaj 16-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Glingerbank (10-12) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
King In Waiting (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Held up mid-division, hampered 3 out, kept on from next, nearest finish, 3rd of 14, 2l behind All For The Cause (11-6) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Maneki Neko (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 2 out, led before last, driven and stayed on well, flat, won at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Aug beating Solway Bay (9-12) by 7l, 9 ran.
Jordan's Light (USA) 33-1 (10-5) Held up in touch, weakened last, 4th of 13, 15l behind Drever Route (10-12) at Hexham 2m nov hdl (4) gs.
Nodform William 7-2 (11-0) Held up, headway and in touch 5th, ridden to challenge between last 2, weakened flat, 3rd of 9, 18l behind Thats Confidential (10-9) at Cartmel 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Florentino 8-1 (10-7) Held up behind, struggling 4 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Currahee (10-4) at Ayr 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar, 12 ran.
Orang Outan (FR) 11-2 (10-10) In touch, blundered badly 2nd, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Little Bob (11-1) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr, 15 ran.
Lahib The Fifth (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) In touch, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 28l behind Supply And Fix (10-5) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Aug '07.
Thistle 6-1 (11-12) In touch, closer order 4th, led approaching 3 out, all out and headed line, 2nd of 18, hd behind Black Cloud (10-11) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Parsou (FR) 16-1 (11-11) Raced keen in mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 9, well behind Corkage (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Sept.
Armaguedon (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Held up mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden next, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 35l behind Carrietau (10-11) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Apr.
Monsieur (FR) 15-8fav (10-12) Led, clear 2 out, hung left after last, headed last stride, 2nd of 12, hd behind Coconut Beach (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (5) sft.
Springvic (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, pushed along and reminders 3rd, headway approaching 2 out, chased winner after last, stayed on well, no impression, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Motive (11-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in May.
Haroum (USA) 14-1 (10-8) Chased leaders 2 out, soon weakened, 10th of 16, well behind Max Bygraves (11-2) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
