led, not fluent 7th, hit 9th, headed 11th, hit 12th, blundered 13th, mistake and weakened 14th
not fluent 1st, went prominent 3rd, lost place after 6th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 10th
never going well, jumped right, tailed off 7th, pulled up before 11th
in touch, lost place 4th, soon given reminders, more reminders after 6th, moved closer briefly after 10th, soon lost touch again, tailed off when jumped right 14th, soon pulled up
went handy 5th, chased leader after 13th, led and mistake 3 out, clear last, stayed on well
in rear, mistake 5th, went in touch 7th, driven 13th, weakened before next
chased leader until 7th, remained prominent until led 11th, headed 3 out, one pace and no impression from 2 out
prominent, went 2nd 7th until 10th, weakened approaching 4 out
behind from 5th, tailed off 8th, pulled up before 11th
HARRY WOOD is our idea of the winner with Another Brother and The Wooden Spoon offered as alternatives. Donald McCain's runners are in better form of late and having finished third to Tot O' Whiskey at Carlisle, we can expect the gelding to have come on for that first outing. Another Brother won a novice hurdle at this track last month. After a subsequent disappointment, connections have elected to go chasing. The Wooden Spoon made hay in handicap hurdles from a low base. This looks tougher. Gritti Palace is well named as he needs a thorough test of stamina. Mistanoora looks fully exposed nowadays. Plein Pouvoir was quietly campaigned over hurdles while Alan King's Sharajan is proven in testing going and cannot be readily discounted. Harry Wood gets the nod.
Another Brother (IRE) 5-4fav (11-4) Prominent, raced keenly, chased leader approaching 2nd, led before 7th, headed when not fluent 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on flat, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Woodlands Gem (10-5) at Towcester 3m nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Another Classic 9-4 (12-0) Made virt all; drew clr flat, won at Hackwood Park 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Noble Profile (12-0) by 10l, 9 ran.
Gritti Palace (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Chased leaders to 8th, weakened next, 5th of 8, well behind Tot O'Whiskey (10-12) at Carlisle 3m nov chs (3) hvy in Oct.
Harry Wood (FR) 13-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, effort approaching 3 out, no impression from next, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Tot O'Whiskey (10-12) at Carlisle 3m nov chs (3) hvy in Oct.
Le Beau Bai (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Always prominent, not fluent 7th, ridden after 3 out, chased winner briefly approaching 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 12, 11l behind Jam Packed (11-9) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Sept.
Mistanoora 4-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, blundered 10th, weakened from 4 out, 4th of 8, 36l behind Tot O'Whiskey (10-12) at Carlisle 3m nov chs (3) hvy in Oct.
Plein Pouvoir (FR) 15-2 (11-4) Led, blundered and headed 9th, weakened next, tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Hopkins (11-0) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) gs in Mar, 14 ran.
Sharajan (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Mid-divison, mistake 4th, ridden and held from 4 out, 5th of 14, 30l behind Stop The Show (10-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
Tarsus 66-1 (10-13) Held up in last pair, lost touch with leading trio from 10th, tailed off next, 4th of 7, well behind What A Friend (11-4) at Uttoxeter 3m beg chs (4) gs in Oct.
Bearneen Boy (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, pushed along 7th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Banoge (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn chs (4) gs, 12 ran.
The Wooden Spoon (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Made all, ridden approaching 3 out, hit next, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m 7f nov hdl (4) gs in Apr beating Mr Barnacle (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
