tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led between last 2, in command last, driven out
led to 3rd, chased leader to 3 out, weakened next
blundered 4th, never going well jumped slowly in rear after, tailed off 5th
held up, ridden 3 out, soon no impression
tracked leader, led 3rd, ridden and hit 2 out, soon headed and weakened last
held up in touch, ridden 2 out, stayed on to take leaders approaching last, went 2nd final 100yds, no chance with easy winner
chased leaders until weakened 3 out, mistake next
in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace
From a shortlist containing Sea The Light, Afsoun and Anemix, in the finale we will side with Sea The Light. Sea The Light looked an improved performer when scroing on his seasonal return at Leicester and, despite an eight-pounds rise for that win, he still looks set to play a leading part in this race today. Having been placed at Aintree after finishing fifth to Detroit City in the Triumph Hurdle, Afsoun proved himself a very useful juvenile hurdler last season. He may have been past his best come Liverpool and, possibly a horse to catch fresh, he looks set for a good run today. Whispered Promises competed reasonably well at the top level last season and is not ruled out of a good run, while Iffy is a battler but an eight-pounds rise for his Aintree win will make things a bit tougher today. Finally, Anemix is lightly raced, looks open to improvement and starts the campaign on a reasonable mark, while Midas Way, who was decent on the Flat, looked comfortable when scoring on his only run to date, which came over course and distance, and he too is open to improvement. For the selection, though, we will side with Sea The Light.
Afsoun (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Held up, headway 3rd, chasing leaders when hit 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 11l behind Detroit City (11-0) at Aintree 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Whispered Promises (USA) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 16, 25l behind Straw Bear (11-3) at Aintree 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Apr.
Neveesou (FR) 7-4fav (11-7) Held up and keen, headway and not fluent 13th, mistake 4 out, ridden and every chance last, not quicken towards finish, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Royal Katidoki (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf in Oct.
Iffy 8-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, led approaching last, driven out, won at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct beating Unjust Law (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Amour Multiple (IRE) 28-1 (10-6) Not fluent 1st, behind, ridden and headway after 3 out, stayed on, 5th of 15, 19l behind Desert Quest (11-12) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl (2) gf in Oct.
Grasp 50-1 (11-2) Held up, hit 2nd, some progress after 4th, weakened 3 out, 12th of 13, 35l behind Mahogany Blaze (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Craven (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up, some headway 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Natal (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Anemix (FR) 4-1co-fav (11-7) Prominent, smooth headway to chase leader approaching 2 out, soon led, hard ridden and headed close home, 2nd of 11, hd behind L'oudon (11-12) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Midas Way 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led well before 3 out, driven between last 2, stayed on well flat, won at Newbury 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Classic Role (11-0) by 3l, 18 ran.
Sea The Light 2-1fav (11-8) Chased leader, not fluent 4th, led 3 out, driven out, won at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf beating Flamand (10-7) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
