slightly lead until after 2nd, prominent, left 2nd at 6th, led 2 out, pushed clear flat, easily
tracked leaders, left 2nd at 5th, left in lead next, pushed along after 3 out, driven and headed 2 out, no chance with winner when hit last
tracked leading pair, mistake 5th and dropped to 4th, soon pushed along, left 3rd at 6th, ridden and struggling soon after, tailed off
pulled hard, slow jump 1st, led after 2nd, going okay in lead when fell 6th
held up behind leaders, pushed along after 5th, lost touch after next, tailed off when hit 2 out, pulled up before last
ANAK is selected to land the opener at the main expense of Coeur Brule. It's a juvenile hurdle that probably won't live long in the memory, but 78-rated flat performer Anak looks to have been found a good opportunity to make a winning debut over hurdles by trainer Jim Best. The Lewes-based handler has not had too many runners of late, but those he has entered have gone well, so there is no problem on that score, Tony McCoy is a plus in the plate, and he will handle these conditions well, while stamina will not be an issue. Coeur Brule has it to prove on the ground but does at least have some hurdling experience on his side with a couple of reasonable efforts last month, and if there is any chink in the favourite's armour then he is most likely to take advantage. Head Down was better than Coeur Brule on the flat, being well worth his own mark in the high-70s, although he is only a miler in that sphere and getting two miles in soft ground today will not be easy. The other pair look to have plenty to find and Anak is the one for us.
Anak (IRE) 4-7fav (9-5) Led, headed after 1 1/2f, chased leader in 2nd, led under 4f out, ridden and challenged 2f out, kept on well to go clear from over 1f out, easily, won at Ballinrobe 1m 6f mdn stks gd in Jul beating Won In The Dark (10-5) by 6l, 9 ran (flat).
Coeur Brule (FR) 12-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, effort approaching 3 out, ridden next, weakened approaching last, 4th of 9, 16l behind Kind Heart (10-7) at Aintree 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Head Down 7-1 (9-4) Prominent, weakened final furlong, 7th of 11, 15l behind Sunshine Always (9-7) at Kempton 1m 3yo clm stks (6) pol in Sep (flat).
Richardlionheart (USA) 66-1 (8-9) Pulled hard, held up and always in rear, never a factor, 8th of 11, 14l behind Hector Spectre (9-0) at Brighton 1m 2f sell hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Oct (flat).
Bari Bay 14-1 (10-8) Held up, weakened 3 out, 5th of 9, 39l behind Prince Pippin (10-5) at Plumpton 2m nov clm hdl (5) gd.
