held up in rear, not fluent 5th, struggling when mistake 3 out, pulled up before next
mid-division on outside, jumped right 2nd, mistake 3rd, not fluent 5th, jumped right and struggling 3 out, mistake and weakened next
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, went 2nd before last, no impression on winner and pecked on landing, soon 3rd and one pace
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, no impression on winner and dropped to 3rd before last, mistake at hurdle, soon went 2nd again
held up, not fluent 4th, headway 5th, outpaced after 2 out, stayed on flat
made all, clear before last, stayed on well
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd or 5th, ridden after 2 out, weakened from next
tracked winner until 3 out, outpaced next, soon weakened
held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 5th, effort on outside 2 out, soon weakened
Laudatory likes it here and won over track and trip last month under Nico de Boinville. This is a much stronger race, however, and he was pulled up when Cry Of Freedom won at Taunton in May, though did reverse that form at Newton Abbot the following month. First Avenue won the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March but it was heavy ground that day and he has 10lb more to carry here. Hawkhill and Ahyaknowyerself were both decent novices last year but lack a recent run. The latter looks capable of improving again this term, however, and might not be badly treated here. ALFRAAMSEY has had a couple of runs on the Polytrack lately so should be ready for this and is fancied to go well at decent odds as he holds a few of these on collateral form.
First Avenue 16-1 (10-8) Slowly into stride, always behind, pulled up before last, in a race won by Salubrious (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Conditional Handicap Hurdle (0-145) (4yo+) (2) sft in Mar, 23 ran.
Cry of Freedom (USA) 12-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, hampered 1st, jumped right 2nd, led 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, last of 8, 28l behind Tzora (11-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Jun.
Zarzal (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Always towards rear, 5th of 14, 17l behind Sea Lord (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Jul.
Hawkhill (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Led to 3rd, remained prominent , ridden 3 out, soon weakened, last of 6, well behind Sea Lord (11-10) at Perth 2m ltd hcp hdl (2) gd in Aug.
Ahyaknowyerself (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Tracked leader, led 5th, mistake 4 out, soon headed, not fluent next, ridden after 2 out, rallied last, led again final 50 yards, all out, won at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Oct beating Maybe I Wont (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Laudatory 11-8fav (11-7) Made all, ridden approaching bypassed last, stayed on well, readily, won at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Aug beating Fairyinthewind (11-6) by 4l, 8 ran.
Alfraamsey 7-4fav (10-4) Chased leaders, left in 2nd at 5th, led after 3 out, hit next, drew clear flat comfortably, won at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gd in Oct beating Tindaro (11-10) by 8l, 7 ran.
Dontpaytheferryman (USA) 22-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, ridden after 6th, lost place before 2 out, 8th of 12, 9l behind Tom Wade (10-3) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jun.
Escort'men (FR) 6-1 (11-9) In touch in rear, mistakes, outpaced 8th, 9 lengths last when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Manger Hanagment (11-7) at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in Apr, 5 ran.
