tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th, led before 3 out, drew clear from next, pushed out, easily
not fluent mid-division, weakened 4 out
mid-division, dropped rear 5th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
tracked leader, led after 3rd, headed when hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next
held up mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden and outpaced next, soon beaten
always behind
led to after 3rd, chased leader, lost place and weakened quickly after 6th, pulled up before next
behind, headway into mid-division 7th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
always prominent, effort to chase winner when not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced, lost 2nd last
always behind
mid-division, lost place 8th, soon behind, tailed off
mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden and outpaced next, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd last, no chance with winner
Nonrunner
The double penalty makes life tough for Always Bold and it may pay to side with the promising SAVEIRO ahead of One Back For Luck. Alan Swinbank's gelding was a bumper winner here in February when beating Wave Power easily by ten lengths. He was well-backed on that occasion so the market should be listened to once again, and with improvement to come from his reappearance run at Aintree he should take all the beating. One Back For Luck has three hurdles runs under her belt, including behind top chaser Big Zeb and also the promising Some Present. On both occasions she has been some way adrift at the line but this is obviously easier and she should run well. Blinkers are tried for the first time on Hill Billy Rock, Fly Tipper fell last time out, whilst Ergo ran well behind Bruslini in a fair race last month. Once again there are more Irish contenders adding an unknown factor, the most interesting of whom is Ballywooden King, whilst Always Bold is a proven winner but despite his claimer's help he is likely to find things tough under his big weight. This looks a good chance for Saveiro to relish the longer trip and gain his first hurdling success.
Always Bold (IRE) 9-4fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden and soon headed, weakened from last, 4th of 7, 22l behind Dunaskin (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Ballywooden King (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Close up, dropped to 6th over 3f out, soon no impression, 5th of 13, well behind Bold Buccaneer (11-11) at Sligo 2m N H flat sft in Jul.
Balmacara Boy (IRE) 200-1 (10-5) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, soon tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Soft Spoken Guy (10-9) at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Desert Soul 33-1 (11-7) Led, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 15th of 16, well behind Dunbrody House (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Oct.
Ergo (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway to go 3rd 6th, not fluent last, weakened flat, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Bruslini (10-12) at Haydock 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Fly Tipper 50-1 (10-12) In touch when fell 7th, in a race won by Frankie Anson (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft, 9 ran.
Franklee (9-0) won at Markopoulou(GR) 5f 4yo stk in Feb '08, 11 ran (flat).
Lisbon Lion (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Held up, every chance over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 12, 13l behind Beat The Shower (8-8) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Oct (flat).
Saveiro (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, headed soon after, weakened from 2 out, 3rd of 13, 11l behind Sonowyouno (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Shadow Boxer 14-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, one pace over 2f out, 7th of 15, 11l behind Birch Hill Bedouin (11-1) at Newcastle 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Oct.
Yes Mate 100-1 (10-11) Towards rear, ridden halfway, tailed off 3 out, 7th of 11, well behind Dais Return (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
One Back For Luck (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on outer, bad mistake 5th, weakened from 2 out, 17th of 25, 35l behind Some Present (11-12) at Punchestown 2m mdn hdl in Oct.
Art Bank 40-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, led 4 out, headed next, soon weakened, 9th of 11, well behind Canadian Blaze (10-1) at Kelso 2m 6f NH mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.
Hill Billy Rock (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Hit 1st, mid-division on outside, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, last of 13, well behind Still At Lunch (11-5) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
