led, clear until 7th, headed soon after, weakening when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
in rear until pulled up before 6th
mid-division, ridden after 7th, soon well beaten
held up towards rear, mistake 5th, headway 7th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, not much room on inside bend after 5th, some headway when mistake 7th, soon ridden, well beaten well before 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, headway after 6th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, headway after 7th, challenged from 3 out, no extra final 100 yards, lost 2nd last strides
held up in rear, good headway 6th, challenged after 7th, hanging right on bend before 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, ridden to chase leading pair after 3 out, stayed on same pace flat, went 2nd last strides
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 2nd, led after 7th, edged right approaching last, stayed on well flat, driven out
mid-division on outside, lost place and blundered 5th, soon detached, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, pecked 1st, reminders after 4th, weakened 6th, tailed off when pulled up after 7th
jumped right, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Nonrunner
Orion Express, NOVARRA and Miss Phoebe make the shortlist here, with Novarra taken to follow up a decisive last time out success. This is a race lacking in depth, with the main contenders nonetheless boasting recent winning form. Miss Phoebe will have her supporters, coming from an in form yard and the mount of Tony McCoy. However, her recent win came in a claiming hurdle, and she was beaten last time in a novices¿ handicap hurdle, and the balance of her form leaves her a little to find. Orion Express put a long winless run behind as he landed his last two contests, taking advantage of a slipping handicap mark. Those wins have seen him climb the weights once more and he may be found out here. Novarra is thoroughly consistent, and rarely finishes out of the frame. Her recent Huntingdon success would have been more emphatic had it not been for late blunders and Novarra can score again.
Waltham Abbey 6-1 (11-3) Led to 4 out, one pace, 2nd of 11, 18l behind Rio De Janeiro (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sell hdl (5) gd.
Orion Express 9-4fav (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, chased leader 4 out, ridden to lead between last 2, driven out, won at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf beating Olivino (11-5) by 5l, 10 ran.
Novarra (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Chased leader until approaching 3rd, remained handy, hit 3 out, led 2 out, driven clear from last, won at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Apr beating Massini Moon (10-12) by 5l, 6 ran.
Katalak (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Held up, hampered after 3rd, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 18, 27l behind Lepido (11-2) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Apr.
Mountain Oscar (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway when hampered on bend approaching 2 out, stayed on, went 3rd last, not reached leaders, 3rd of 17, 4l behind Exmoor Ranger (11-1) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp 0-115 (4) gd in Feb '08.
Danse Macabre (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway on inside approaching 7th, ridden to chase leader after 2 out, led flat, headed near finish, 3rd of 17, 1l behind Wardington Lad (11-7) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
E Major 7-4fav (11-2) In touch, chased leader 4 out, led before 3 out, headed 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 30l behind Elaala (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Miss Phoebe (IRE) 15-8fav (10-12) Held up, steady progress under pressure from 7th, close 3rd when not fluent 2 out, every chance flat, no extra near finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Synonymy (10-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
Macchiato 33-1 (11-2) Led to 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next, 11th of 17, 44l behind Description (11-9) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Festival Dreams 7-2 (10-8) Held up, hampered 1st, ridden and some progress 7th, weakend 3 out, 8th of 11, 43l behind Synonymy (10-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
Twice Charmed 25-1 (10-11) Always in rear, struggling 4th, mistake next, last of 16, well behind Acapulco Bay (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Smiling Applause 100-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off 7th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Soubriquet (10-9) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
Dawn Street 125-1 (10-3) Jumped right 2 out, always towards rear, 6th of 13, well behind Wolf Moon (11-6) at Uttoxeter 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Muraqeb 100-1 (10-0) Behind from 3rd, tailed off when pulled up after 6th, in a race won by Dover's Hill (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hcp 0-115 (4) gd in Apr, 18 ran.
Coltscroft 15-2 (11-8) Held up, good headway 6th, driven and every chance 2 out, hung right approaching last, jumped left and ran on, just held, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Wee Danny (9-13) at Newton Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Aug '06.
