chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, slightly outpaced before 2 out, stayed on towards finish
held up in rear, pushed along briefly after 3rd, headway 5th, weakened 3 out
held up in touch, driven along after 5th, weakened before 3 out
pressed leader, jumped right 2nd, led 4th to 6th, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, challenged on bit 2 out, edged right flat, headed towards finish
always behind
not fluent 4th, always behind
led to 4th, ridden after next, weakened before 3 out
mid-division, mistake 2nd, beaten 3 out
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway 5th, led approaching 3 out, headed when not fluent last, one pace
mid-division, headway after 3 out, not fluent 2 out or last, one pace, no impression
mid-division, lost place 5th
tracked leaders, raced keenly, hung right on bend after 3 out, every chance 2 out, one pace approaching last
held up in rear, headway approaching 5th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, pushed along before 4th, never dangerous
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway under pressure after 3 out, stayed on well from 2 out to lead towards finish
prominent, went upsides 5th, led next, headed approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out
not fluent 4th, always behind, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
This handicap hurdle looks very competitive but the main players appear to be Mickmacmagoole, High Jack and Mount Benger, with the vote given to the first mentioned. The selection has got some fair form on the flat but he has always given the impression that he would be better suited by a career over hurdles. He hails from a yard that are in form and he is sure to have been well-schooled, so he can run a big race. High Jack has been off the track since March but he did shape with promise in a novices' hurdle at Stratford last time when chasing home Spirit of New York and with that experience under his belt he can go well. Mount Benger was really disappointing when last seen out at Sandown, but the ground was probably against him that day and he may be capable of bouncing back on his seasonal bow. Walton Way may be better over slightly further, while Barton Legend has yet to replicate his bumper form over hurdles. All of which returns us to Mickmacmagoole as the pick.
Barton Legend 16-1 (11-3) Led until before 3rd, chased leaders until weakening when mistake 7th, 6th of 14, 32l behind Cottingham (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Primitive Academy 25-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 22l behind Palomar (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
Salym (FR) 33-1 (11-2) In touch, headway to lead and hit 3 out, driven and headed 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 16, 13l behind Saunders Road (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Port Of Mogan (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Blundered and unseated rider in race won by Risk Runner (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd, 18 ran.
Mickmacmagoole (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 6th 5 out, weakened from next, 9th of 19, well behind Streets Of Gold (11-10) at Gowran Park 2m 4f mdn hdl hvy in Mar.
Mount Benger 20-1 (11-1) Always behind, last of 13, well behind Scaramouche (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
Diamond Cutter (NZ) 25-1 (11-12) Prominent, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 26l behind Avesomeofthat (11-2) at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jun '06.
Baie des Flamands (USA) 33-1 (10-9) In touch, tracking leader when hit 7th, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out pulled up 3 out in race won by Ordre de Bataille (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar, 17 ran.
Seven Sky (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 6th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Saunders Road (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd, 16 ran.
Tisfreetdream (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Jumped left, mid-division, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer, 5th of 13, 13l behind Im Spartacus (11-12) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Apr.
High Jack (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 15, 6l behind Spirit of New York (11-0) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Milton Des Bieffes (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, pushed along lost place 6th, 9th of 12, well behind Brown Teddy (11-10) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Wild Tonto (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Chased leaders until ridden and weakened after 3 out, 13th of 16, well behind Saunders Road (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Opare (FR) 10-1 (10-11) Prominent until weakened 6th, 10th of 12, well behind Basic Fact (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Walton Way 6-1 (11-6) Prominent, led 6th to 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 14, 29l behind Ricardo's Chance (11-4) at Worcester 3m cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gf in Apr.
Mendosino (GER) 40-1 (10-8) Jumped slowly 1st, always towards rear, 7th of 13, 31l behind Le Corvee (11-5) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Sept.
Optimum (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Took keen hold and prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 12th of 17, 30l behind Waldo's Dream (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Celtic Empire (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Towards rear, never dangerous, 10th of 15, well behind Oscar Jo (10-5) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in May.
