held up, headway 7th, ridden to lead after 2 out, pecked last, kept on
in touch, landed 1st, mistak and weakened 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
prominent and keen, hit 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, chased winner approaching last, stayed on
led to 7th, weakened approaching 2 out
prominent until weakened approaching 2 out, soon pulled up
held up, headway approaching 6th, led next, ridden when pecked 2 out, soon headed, weakened approaching last
held up, headway after 4th, jumped slowly and hung left from 5th, weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mistake 1st, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 5th
in touch, pushed along after 4th, weakened 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
Red Scally gets the confident vote in the opener with Venice Road and Obaki de Grissay nominated as the main dangers. The selection could not be in better form and he showed a fantastic attitude to score last time when beating Wild Cane Ridge. He will be suited by these testing conditions and this progressive 6-year-old stands out as the one to beat. Venice Road rates the main danger on the back of his debut bumper win but he disappointed last time on his hurdling debut and he has yet to prove that he will handle the ground. Obaki de Grissay is another one that can be fancied on his bumper form and he did shape promisingly behind Carnival Town on his hurdling debut. If he improves then he is entitled to be thereabouts at the finish. Ossman ran a fair race last time and is another to consider but for the winner we will stick with Red Scally.
Red Scally 4-1 (10-1) Towards rear, pushed along 5th, headway under pressure 3 out, effort and went 2nd next, stayed on strongly flat to lead close home, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs beating Wild Cane Ridge (11-12) by a hd, 9 ran.
Duckworth Lewis (IRE) 11-4jt-fav (10-9) In touch, ridden over 4f out, weakened 3f out, 10th of 16, 20l behind Johnny Bissett (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) gs.
Obaki de Grissay (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 7th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 16, 27l behind Carnival Town (10-7) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs.
Ossmann (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Led, headed over 4f out, soon ridden, weakened over 3f out, 6th of 16, 23l behind Harrowman (10-9) at Haydock 2m nhf (6) gd.
Past Entertainer (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 11th of 18, well behind Ordre de Bataille (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Tisfreetdream (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 18, 25l behind Ordre de Bataille (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Venice Road (IRE) 22-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, lost place 3rd, 14th of 17, well behind Bleak House (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Fashion Shoot 200-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, behind from 4th, tailed off, 12th of 15, well behind Apollo Lady (10-10) at Worcester 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
