towards rear, some progress 6th, lost place next, stayed on again from 3 out, not reached leading trio
mid-division, headway 3 out, led approaching 2 out, edged right briefly, kept on
keen, in rear, headway to track leader 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up, headway after 3 out, chased winner soon after, switched left approaching last, no impression
led, headed 6th, soon weakened and well behind
tracked leader, ridden 7th, weakened next
mid-division, ridden 3 out, plugged on
held up, keen, tracked leaders from 4th, led 6th, headed 3 out and weakened
tracked leaders, behind from 7th
in touch, lost place after 5th, behind when hit 4 out
tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakening when mistake and soon hung right
This contest will make for interesting viewing with a couple of these having pipeopeners before making their debuts over fences. MIDDLETON DENE is a classy sort on his day and can make a winning seasonal debut here while a whole host can be given positive mentions returning to the course, among them Ringaroses and Duc De Regniere. The selection performed very creditably at Cheltenham when finishing sixth in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, travelling very well to the second last before weakening on the stiff uphill climb. Strict reading of his form with Matuhi in the Sidney Banks contest at Huntingdon gives Ben De Haan's charge the upper-hand strictly on the weights but Nicky Richards has his string in fine form and Middleton Dene can continue that good run. Nicky Henderson's string are also flying with a near 40% win record with his runners this month so far. Duc De Regniere claimed some notable scalps as a novice hurdler and three outings in novice chases yielded one victory while on his final start he was beaten in a match-up against Starzaan at Wincanton. He has a course and distance victory to his name, that being as a novice hurdler. Ringaroses seasonal debut ended prematurely when he was pulled up at halfway. That was in a beginners chase and this could possibly be viewed as a confidence booster but he proved himself very progressive last season. He was a leading ante-post fancy for the Coral Cup at Cheltenham before injury intervened and off just a 2lb higher mark to the mark he finished second off at Doncaster in February, he could be a danger to all. Nakai tended to race very keenly last season and as a result was not seeing out his races. Chasing is where he should come into his own as he created a big impression in the Irish point-to-point field two years ago. Further down the weights Matuhi could be a danger to all. Connections opted to take on the bigger novices only once last year, where he was not disgraced. He finished off last season dead-heating with a 117 rated rival in novice company but further improvement should be forthcoming. Middleton Dene is given the vote to win it for the Rose Dobbin and Nicky Richards combination.
Middleton Dene (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, prominent, steadied 4th, weakened 10th, 9th of 13, 39l behind Pettifour (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Duc De Regniere (FR) 8-13fav (11-4) Disputed lead until after 4 out, soon ridden, beaten when hit next, last of 2, 28l behind Starzaan (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (3) gs in Feb.
Ringaroses 7-4jt-fav (11-2) Held up, hampered 8th, blundered badly 10th and pulled up at the 11th in race won by Psychomodo (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f beg chs (3) gd, 10 ran.
Nakai (FR) 11-2jt-fav (11-8) Behind, headway after 3 out, weakened after next, 10th of 18, 29l behind Backbord (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb.
McGruders Cross (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Tracked leader in 2nd, led from before 3 out, headed and weakened from before 2 out, 18th of 25, 41l behind Brave Right (10-2) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl gd in Apr.
Freeze The Flame (GER) 25-1 (11-0) Soon ridden in mid-division, behind from 5th, 15th of 23, well behind Katchit (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar '07.
Mister Gloss (IRE) 4-1 (10-6) Took keen hold tracking leaders, effort 4 out, weakened after next, 7th of 12, 24l behind Hills Of Aran (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Matuhi 6-4fav (11-5) Led, headed after 2nd, stayed prominent, ridden 3 out, mistake last, ran on flat to join leader on line, won at Southwell 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Apr deadheating with Prince Taime (11-5), 12 ran.
Mith Hill 33-1 (11-5) In touch until 8th, soon behind, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Jug Of Punch (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Apr.
Tampa Boy (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Prominent, mistakes 4th and 7th, not much room and weakened before 7th, 15th of 17, well behind The Polomoche (11-12) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Oct.
Harris Bay 25-1 (10-2) Never fluent or travelling, in rear, tailed off and pulled up at the 13th in race won by Roll Along (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp chs (2) gd, 12 ran.
