tracked leader, ridden and lost place 3 out, weakened next
held up, headway 3 out, led last, ridden clear flat
tracked leaders, effort and every chance 2 out, soon ridden and kept on same pace
in rear, ridden 4 out, soon lost touch
tracked leaders on inside, effort 2 out, 5 lengths 4th, one pace when fell last
in touch, outpaced when not much room after 4 out, no impression from next
held up, some headway on outside approaching 3 out, soon weakened
led, driven 2 out, headed when not fluent last, ridden and kept on same pace flat
Palmito showed improved form on his second start over hurdles for Nigel Twiston-Davies when landing a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las earlier this month and he has to be considered but it is hard to get away from MANOR PARK, who gets the vote with Pilgrims Lane rated the best of the rest. The selection ran to a decent level of form in Ireland for Jessica Harrington without ever winning but wasted no time in opening his account for Tim Vaughan when taking a maiden hurdle over course and distance earlier this month and, judged by that performance and earlier form in Ireland, he should take all the beating. Howard Johnson's Takween won well enough in a maiden at Navan when last seen in April 2008 and now makes his debut over hurdles so is probably best watched, while James Lambe's Skylancer is likely to struggle under his penalties for recent wins at Sedgefield and Kelso. Patriot has run promisingly in two starts over timber having run to a reasonable level of form in bumpers but more solid claims are held by Pilgrims Lane. The Milton Harris-trained gelding has a penalty to carry following two earlier wins at Fontwell but he has to be respected having held his form well since his most recent success. Tim Vaughan's Manor Park is the clear form pick of the race though and is taken to win again.
Pilgrims Lane (IRE) 15-2 (10-2) Held up in rear, headway and in touch 6th, every chance 2 out, 2 lengths down and disputing 2nd went fell last, in a race won by Oscar Bay (11-9) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf, 6 ran.
Skylancer 5-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway 2 out, led flat, kept on well, won at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd beating Mcmurrough (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Manor Park (IRE) 4-7fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 5th, led 3 out, stayed on well, won at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gf beating Whispering Death (11-0) by 5l, 10 ran.
Bold Indian (IRE) 28-1 (10-11) Saddle soon slipped, led 3rd, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 44l behind Manor Park (11-0) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gf.
Fell Pack 12-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, in 3rd when fell 5th, in a race won by Manor Park (11-0) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gf, 10 ran.
Patriot (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 4 out, effort before 2 out, soon edged left, no impression approaching last, 3rd of 11, 13l behind Hazeldene (11-0) at Perth 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Takween (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Mid-division on outer, 5th and headway early straight, challenged under 2f out, led under 1f out, stayed on well, won at Navan 1m 2f mdn stks gs in Apr '08 beating Almolahek (9-0) by 1l, 20 ran (flat).
Palmito (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Made all, jumped left and hit 2 out, rider lost iron briefly, soon ridden, went left last, ran on, won at Ffos Las 2m mdn hdl (4) gd beating A Haon A Do (10-7) by 6l, 6 ran.
