held up mid-division, weakened after 8th, pulled up before 3 out
held up, weakened from 8th
tracked leader and keen, led after 6th, clear 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened, not fluent last
always towards rear, weakened 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
in touch, ridden and weakened 5 out, pulled up 3 out
held up, headway to chase leaders when hit 8th, challenged on bit after 2 out, led after last, pushed out
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 6th, led 2 out, blundered last, soon headed and one pace
tracked leaders, not fluent 4 out, ridden approaching next, hit 2 out, soon weakened
led, hit 1st, hit 6th, soon headed, tailed off from 4 out
held up behind, blundered 3rd, outpaced approaching 4 out, no impression after
in touch, ridden 4 out, weakened next
always behind, pushed along from 6th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 8th
always behind, tailed off 4 out
This should be a rather close encounter where Right Option, Don Castille or NIGHT CRU could take the honours and it is the last mentioned that gets our vote. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding has been placed on his last four outings since stepping into handicap company and, although he looks to be as good as he'll ever be victory looks imminent in a race such as this especially now he comes under the ride of champion jockey Tony McCoy. Right Option has yet to win over hurdles, but he tends to stick on right the way to the line. His form is up and down recently but another finish behind the winner looks likely, he will find a race eventually just not today. Connections were pleased with Don Castille last time. He finished a remote second on his return to action after an absence of almost 18 months. The gelding is a bumper winner; he has already had a run over fences and should make the frame today. The rest offer very little on the bare form so a market check is advised. It should be close at the front but for us Night Cru looks likely to come out on top.
Cilrhiwron 18-1 (10-7) Awkward and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Havenstone (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gd, 14 ran.
Daison 66-1 (10-12) Prominent, raced keenly, not always fluent, mistake 9th, soon pushed along, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Always Bold (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Diamanpeg (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) In rear, not fluent 1st, jumped slowly 3rd, soon well behind, tailed off, 13th of 16, well behind Garafena (10-7) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf.
Don Castille (USA) 10-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along when bumped 3 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 12l behind Santia (11-5) at Worcester 2m hdl (4) sft.
Give Us The Nod 100-1 (10-13) In touch, weakened 5f out, tailed off, last of 13, well behind Bold Addition (10-9) at Aintree 2m 1f NH flat (4) gs in May.
Go Man Go (IRE) 250-1 (11-0) Always behind, tailed off 3 out, 12th of 14, well behind Time For Rupert (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Night Cru 3-1 (9-11) In touch, not always fluent, chased leader after 5th, ridden after 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Hernando Royal (9-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Mar.
Right Option (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Quattrocento (11-9) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
The Arsonist (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) In touch, ridden after 7th, blundered 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 16, 15l behind Passato (11-6) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Thenford Lad (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Prominent, ridden 5th, weakened next, 8th of 11, well behind Lord Baskerville (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gd.
Crazy Eyes (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Rear of mid-division, weakened 4 out, 17th of 21, well behind Coffee Tea Or Me (11-7) at Cork 2m 4yo mdn hdl gd in Mar.
Persistent (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) In touch, weakened 4th, 11th of 13, well behind Starluck (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Barlin Bay 100-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders until weakened over 3f out, 12th of 15, 37l behind Henry Hook (11-4) at Kempton 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Smart Pick 100-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, behind 7th, 10th of 15, 28l behind Nothingbutthetruth (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nov sell hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Thenford Duke (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace after, 6th of 16, 17l behind Jades Double (9-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec '06.
Dancing Danoli 40-1 (11-7) Jnd ldrs 5; wkng when pu 12, in a race won by Special Portrait (11-7) at Bangor-on-dee 3m ptp in May, 12 ran.
