held up in touch, smooth headway after 4 out, led approaching 2 out, clear when jumped left last, easily
held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 3 out, one pace
held up, hit 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
in touch and keen, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed next, one pace
tracked leaders, weakened from 3 out
close up, ridden after 3 out, one pace and no chance with winner
led, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
not fluent in rear, headway 3 out, one pace
From a shortlist of NORDWIND, Ardmaddy and The Kealshore Kid, we'll side here with the first named. The market can give us some clues here, as in the last ten years of this race, only one winner has been bigger than 6 to 1, but favourites haven't fared particularly well. Evan Williams' gelding is giving away weight all round, and at least a stone, but he must think it's worth his while sending him here, as his only runner on the card. In ten runs over hurdles he's only been out of the frame three times, but his recent form shows two wins and two seconds from four outings. We wouldn't take too short a price, but there are more positives than negatives. Armaddy's a versatile type, having run regularly on the flat too, but frustratingly is all too often placed without having the final kick to go on and win. Indeed his three career victories to date have all been on the flat. The Kealshore Kid is still a maiden after ten runs, and to break his duck may need to be dropped in class. Bottom weight Diklers Oscar makes her hurdling debut but has won a couple of bumpers. She may need the race to get the hang of jumping though. Sam Jones is getting a reputation as a decent conditional jockey, and can further improve that by winning this on board Nordwind.
Nordwind (IRE) 2-11fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, led soon after 3 out, clear approaching 2 out, eased flat, won at Southwell 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Midnite Blews (10-4) by 13l, 9 ran.
Always Best 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, until ridden and weakened 4 out, 6th of 8, well behind Catch Bob (11-0) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Ardmaddy (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) In touch, hit 4th, ridden next, weakening when mistake 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Zhukov (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Sawyer's Gold 200-1 (10-7) Towards rear, not fluent 1st and 3rd, lost touch approaching 5th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Vasodilator (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gf in Apr, 12 ran.
Sir Liam (USA) 25-1 (10-8) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 5th of 9, 41l behind Laredo Sound (11-8) at Lingfield 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Mar '08.
Spume (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, led approaching 4th briefly, weakened 5th, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Supreme de Paille (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Mar.
The Kealshore Kid (IRE) 5-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, hit 5th, led 8th, headed next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 16l behind Moonwalking (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Toby Mac 40-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, some headway after 3 out, no impression, 8th of 17, 24l behind Simple Jim (11-12) at Wetherby 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Diklers Oscar (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, hung left and headway 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 20, 16l behind Candy Creek (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f mrs nhf (1) gd in Apr.
National Heritage 7-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, outpaced approaching 3 out, soon no impression, 4th of 11, 18l behind Hazeldene (11-0) at Perth 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
