jumped right, always prominent, mistake 14th, led and blundered 4 out, headed last, kept on towards finish
always behind, tailed off
mid-division, headway 10th, jumped right 13th, led last, driven out
led, not fluent and headed 5th, not fluent 7th, jumped slowly 10th, weakening when blundered and unseated rider 11th
in touch, lost place approaching 10th, slightly hampered 12th, soon weakened, mistake 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway 8th, weakened approaching 2 out
took keen hold, held up, headway 3rd, led 5th, jumped right 7th, headed 4 out, weakened approaching last
chased leaders losing place when mistake and bumped 13th, tailed off
held up, not fluent 8th, hampered 13th, headway after next, weakened approaching 3 out
Highglen, Itsmyboy and Willies Way are the three to look at here and Itsmyboy gets the vote. Itsmyboy represents the David Pipe-Timmy Murphy combination and merits respect. He may not have won for 18 months, but that success was in a good class handicap hurdle at Cheltenham and he has been lightly raced since. Sure to have been well schooled for his chasing bow, he looks sure to go well if taking to the bigger obstacles. Willies Way hails from the out of form Sue Smith yard, and it is over a year too since his last win. He does have the benefit of a previous run over fences though, where he acquitted himself well, though a place may be the best he can hope for. Highglen showed good form in Ireland, and likes cut in the ground, so any rain would be in his favour, though his recent efforts have been disappointing. Itsmyboy will be a popular choice and can oblige.
Highglen (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Raced freely, tracked leader, hit 12th, not fluent 4 out, soon ridden, 4th and beaten when mistake last, last of 4, 26l behind Aztec Warrior (11-10) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (3) gf in Apr.
Itsmyboy (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Held up, headway 6th, ridden and outpaced 9th, stayed on approaching last, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Hautclan (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Mar.
Jolly Joe (IRE) 66-1 (11-1) Pressed leader, hit 7th, lost 2nd 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Classified (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Apr.
Royal Hilarity (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, challenged from 3 out, every chance 2 out, soon no extra, 4th of 10, 16l behind Manners (11-0) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Feb '06.
Tanners Court 20-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, led after 1st, headed 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 2nd of 18, 7l behind Jungleland (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gs in Mar.
Willies Way 6-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders and keen, every chance 3 out, outpaced from next, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Piraeus (11-2) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Friendly Request 12-1 (9-12) In touch, weakened 3 out, 8th of 17, 27l behind Fortunate Dave (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Scholar King 11-10fav (12-0) A gng wl; led 15; v easy, won at Bonvilston 3m ptp gf in Apr beating Danbury (12-0) by 10l, 8 ran.
