tracked leaders, led approaching 6th, headed after 8th and weakened quickly
tracked leaders, fell 5th
mid-division, headway 7th, ridden to chase leading pair 3 out, weakened after 2 out
in touch, hampered 5th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 6th, led after 8th, weakening when headed approaching 2 out
always in rear, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders and pulled hard, led after 2nd, headed 3rd, weakened quickly 7th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
in rear, lost place 5th, behind when pulled up before 7th
held up in touch, headway 4 out, led and clear approaching 2 out, ran on (hand timed)
led, headed after 2nd, led again 4th, headed approaching 6th, ridden and weakened 3 out
pulled hard and always in rear
towards rear, headway 4 out, stayed on to chase winner and mistake last
First Boy, Nostringsattached and Lord Nellson are on the shortlist here, with First Boy having a progressive profile and looking the pick. It's almost a couple of years sine Lord Nellson scored over hurdles, but he has been running well in defeat and comes here after a good third on the Flat at Bath last month. Blinkers are applied for the first time and he can hit the frame at a good price. Nostringsattached is still a maiden after seven attempts but it seems just a matter of time before he gets his head in front and he looks sure to give a good account here. The eight year old First Boy is lightly raced and scored in good fashion at Worcester recently, before finishing a decent third on the Flat at Folkestone. He handles both extremities of ground and First Boy may well be good enough to win again.
Lord Nellsson 12-1 (10-10) Prominent, lost place 11th, rallied 14th, every chance 4 out, edged left and weakened between last 2, 3rd of 13, 8l behind Snipe (9-13) at Worcester 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Apr.
The Glen 16-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 6th, soon weakened, 11th of 13, well behind First Boy (10-8) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jun.
That Man Fox 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 2nd, blundered 5th and headed briefly, ridden 3 out and headed, weakened 2 out, 6th of 10, 19l behind Ashwell (11-6) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
First Boy (GER) 8-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway after 6th, led last, stayed on well, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jun beating Canopus (11-2) by 5l, 13 ran.
Dazzling Jim 14-1 (10-2) Towards rear, headway approaching 5th, weakened after 2 out, 9th of 15, 16l behind Accumulate (10-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Nostringsattached (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up, headway approaching 10th, left 2nd 3 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Go Classic (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jun.
Beaufort 18-1 (11-0) Held up, mistake 4 out, effort next, one pace, 5th of 10, 14l behind Ashwell (11-6) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Dizzy Future 3-1fav (11-6) Held up, headway 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 7th of 10, 38l behind Keepitsecret (11-11) at N Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
