held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, weakened before 3 out, mistake 2 out
led 2nd to 3rd, with leader, led 7th, cleared 2 out, stayed on well
mid-division, headway after 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, beaten 2 out, hung left flat
pulled up, led to 2nd, led 3rd to 7th, weakened approaching 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, raced keenly, weakened approaching 7th, tailed off
not fluent, in rear, awkward 3rd, no chance 9th, tailed off
mid-division, mistake 1st, behind when mistake 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, weakening when jinked left approaching 2 out
mid-division, pushed along over 7th, well beaten 9th
towards rear, ridden approaching 7th, always in rear
in touch, lost place after 6th, behind from 8th
raced wide, in rear, reminder after 4th, mistake next, tailed off 7th
Nonrunner
BADDAM stands out on the figures and should be able to prevail; Will If I Want and Ballyvesey could be the pair to give him most to do. His career has seen him land prestigious handicaps at Newmarket and Ascot as well as the Queen Alexandra Stakes so it's no wonder that his opportunities over hurdles have been restricted. There have been just the three of them and he ran out an impressive winner over course and distance on the latest of them and should do so again. Ballyvesey has a little to prove having struggled over this trip at Ffos Las but that was a more competitive race than this and there appeared to be some confidence behind him that day. He, therefore, has to enter calculations. Will If I Want showed a reasonable level of form for his previous connections, winning once and finishing second on five occasions. That's a poor conversion rate but he has ability and should be involved. Poppy Parade and the ex-Irish Alfa Beat are most interesting of the remainder but it will be disappointing if this doesn't go to Baddam.
Alfa Beat (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden in 5th 3 out, under pressure in 4th and no extra 2 out, kept on same pace, 6th of 21, 15l behind Hot Oscar (11-2) at Cork 3m hdl gd in Aug.
Baddam 7-2 (10-13) Pressed leader, led after 3rd, made rest, clear 2 out, eased flat, won at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May beating Silver Story (10-13) by 13l, 13 ran.
Converti 7-1 (10-9) Held up, outpaced 4 out, ridden and weakened next, 5th of 10, 27l behind War Party (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Aug.
Will If I Want (IRE) 7-4 (11-5) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, driven and one pace from last, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Tribe (10-13) at Wetherby 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Call Me Sam (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, mistake 6th, under pressure next, soon tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Walamo (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Global Flyer 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, some headway 3 out, shaken up, weakening when mistake 2 out, 5th of 10, 21l behind Hi Tide (10-12) at Southwell 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Major Roi (GER) 66-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 6th approaching 5 out, no extra under pressure from 4 out, completely tailed off, 13th of 18, well behind Life For Rent (11-12) at Listowel 3m mdn hdl gd in Sep '07.
Sweet Seville (FR) 16-1 (11-12) In touch, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, well behind Runaround Sue (10-6) at Hereford 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Ballyvesey (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Mid-division, pushed along approaching 8th, weakened after next, 14th of 15, well behind Carsonstown Boy (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Champagne Star 80-1 (10-5) Slowly away, always behind, 9th of 12, 46l behind Rathrockscourt (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f sell hdl (5) gf in Aug.
Poppy Parade (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Took keen hold, led to 2nd, stayed prominent, weakened rapidly approaching 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 14, well behind Quivvy Bridge (11-3) at Stratford 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in Aug.
Ray's Round 80-1 (10-10) With leader, weakened after 5th, 12th of 13, well behind Just Moscow (10-10) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Tarabela 16-1 (9-12) Raced keenly in mid-division, not fluent 7th, went remote 4th approaching 3 out, 4th of 9, 22l behind Victory Parade (10-12) at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Aug.
Bespoke Boy 33-1 (10-2) Hampered start, towards rear, ridden after 5th, soon no chance, 10th of 11, well behind Wheelavit (10-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.
