tracked leader, hit 4th, led approaching 2 out, narrowly headed last, rallied gamely under pressure run-in to regain lead last stride
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 2 out, soon challenging, narrow lead last, driven and stayed on run-in, caught final stride
in touch, slow jump 3rd, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up in 6th, headway and went 4th approaching 2 out, weakened between last 2
chased leaders in 4th, challenged and going well when hit 2 out, still well there last, stayed on under pressure towards finish
always last, ridden and struggling 3 out, tailed off when blundered and fell 2 out, remounted
led, mistake 4th, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened quickly
held up, pushed along after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, no impression on front trio
Any race on the hurdles track will take a fair bit of getting today and these young horses will find it tough going, but we will side with Hell's Bay to get the better of County Zen and Evelith Echo in a race that shoudl prove informative. Paul Nicholls gives Hell's Bay his hurdling debut here and the five-year-old comes here with confidence gained from a Wincanton good ground bumper win last month. Being by Supreme Leade he should relish these testing conditions and being related to Flagship Uberalles and Viking Flagship, both winners of today's feature the Tingle Creek in their time, we expect to see him show plenty of guts if he needs to. County Zen came good when beating Blue Bajan at Ascot last time and he handled heavy ground well enough on debut earlier in the year, so the ground should not inconvenience. He has the best form on offer here but may not be open to as much improvement as the selection. Evelith Echo has run up a hat-trick in bumpers and novices' company and also handles the ground. He needs to improve on what he has achieved thus far but with his yard going well that is entirely possible. Folie Dancer comes back from a year's absence but he looks like being one to keep an eye on here, though the selection remains Hell's Bay, who can be too hot to handle.
County Zen (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Prominent, chased leader after 5th, led approaching 2 out, driven and stayed on flat, won at Ascot 2m hdl (2) gd in Nov beating Blue Bajan (11-0) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Evelith Echo 8-11fav (10-12) Chased leaders, led approaching 2 out and not fluent, soon ridden, kept on, won at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating Bayberry King (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Double Shot 100-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, hampered and unseated rider in race won by Merchent Paddy (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov, 14 ran.
Edgeover 25-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, weakening when mistake 3 out, 7th of 14, 15l behind County Zen (11-0) at Ascot 2m hdl (2) gd in Nov.
Hell's Bay (FR) 4-6fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 4f out, ridden to lead 2f out, driven clear flat, comfortably, won at Wincanton 2m nhf (6) gd in Nov beating Like A Hurricane (11-4) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Li Lo Bosh (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Keen, blundered 1st, tailed off from 5th, 13th of 16, well behind Carruthers (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Shake The Barley (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Pulled hard, soon in touch, struggling over 2f out, 14th of 18, 19l behind Phoudamour (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (5) gd in Nov.
Folie Dancer 17-2 (10-12) Led until 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on, 3rd of 18, 2 1/2l behind Fiddling Again (10-12) at Newbury 1m 4f mrs nhf (5) sft.
