close up, ridden over 4f out, soon lost lost place
led, headed over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
mid-division, pushed along and headway over 2f out, soon went 3rd and kept on
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, soon went 4th, one pace
held up towards rear, headway on inner over 3f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on strongly
held up mid-division, effort and weakened well over 1f out
held up towards rear, effort over 2f out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, led on bit over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, not pace of winner
tracked leaders, led over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
with leaders, lost place over 3f out
Nonrunner
Clerk's Choice is the highest-rated of these over hurdles having finished sixth in the 2011 Champion Hurdle and third in last year's Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr. He'll almost certainly need this, however, while Pearl Swan, still in contention when falling in last year's Triumph Hurdle, has been off the course since. Agent Archie is another with decent form over timber while the four-year-olds Dollar Bill and Sir Fredalot are recent winners and French import Private Equity has had a couple of outing in handicaps on the all-weather lately so can't be ignored. FAIR TRADE ran in the 2010 2000 Guineas and has been placed in a Group 3 on the Flat. He hasn't done a lot wrong over hurdles so far and can gain a deserved success in this.
Aciano (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Tracked leading pair until lost place 5th, rallied to modest 4th 2 out, 4th of 12, 17l behind Valdez (11-11) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Agent Archie (USA) 28-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, lost place next, weakened 2 out, 9th of 14, 15l behind Swing Bowler (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl (2) sft.
Ascendant 100-1 (10-7) Always behind, 20th of 24, well behind Paintball (10-7) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gs in Mar.
Brilliant Barca 11-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, mistake 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Romeo Americo (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Cabimas 8-1 (10-13) Held up in touch in rear, went 3rd before 3 out, no impression, tailed off, 3rd of 5, 40l behind Rowan Tiger (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Oct.
Clerk's Choice (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent, ridden after 8th, well beaten before 3 out, tailed off, 16th of 17, well behind Native Gallery (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Fair Trade 5-2fav (11-0) Took keen hold in touch, smooth headway on inside approaching 3 out, led and came to outside 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra in 3rd flat, 3rd of 18, 6l behind Poet (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Latest Trend (IRE) 5-4fav (11-5) Prominent, mistake 5th, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 36l behind Keenes Day (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Maxdelas (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, not fluent 5th, mistake 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Sail And Return (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.
Pearl Swan (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, dropped towards rear 2nd, reminders after next, soon struggling, 18th 2 out, headway under pressure between last 2, 7th and staying on when fell, last, in a race won by Countrywide Flame (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar, 20 ran.
Private Equity (FR) (10-5) won at Sable Sur Sarthe(FR) 2m 2f hdl gd in Jun, 0 ran.
Synthe Davis (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Led, driven and headed before 3 out, soon lost place, weakened before next, 6th of 10, 49l behind Seedsman (11-1) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Nov.
Dollar Bill 3-1 (10-7) Held up behind, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, 4th of 14, 6l behind Border Station (10-11) at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std.
Sir Fredlot (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened to 3rd and no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 7, 18l behind Knight Of Pleasure (10-9) at Sandown 2m 4yo hdl (4) hvy.
Orvita (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Last trio, struggling 7th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Azulada Bay (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jun, 9 ran.
Trip The Light 28-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway before 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 9th of 19, 31l behind Harvey's Hope (11-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs.
