held up in rear, no chance 9th, tailed off
in touch, ridden after 3 out, weakening when hampered 2 out, tailed off
mid-division, headway approaching 9th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, headway approaching 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway approaching 9th, not fluent 3 out, went second after 2 out, no chance with winner
prominent, raced keenly, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, mistake 8th, no chance next, tailed off
led until after 6th, led 9th, headed when fell 2 out
always in rear, mistake 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
prominent, ridden approaching 4th, weakened before 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
not fluent 3rd, always in rear, tailed off
jumped slowly 1st, soon in touch, led after 6th, headed 9th, still every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway approaching 7th, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, clear last, easily
Different ground is forecast to recent meetings and if the ground remains at good-to-soft then it may pay to side with Tom George's COTTAGE ACRE. There is plenty of point-to-point form to work with here and weighing up the relative merits of the form from between the flags is some challenge. The selection was a winner at Killaloe in Ireland when last seen and has his first run under rules today. He has joined an in-form yard and it will be interesting to see how he moves in the market in the trainer's own colours. With the last eight horses that Gordon Elliott has sent across from Ireland, the form figures read 3-2-2-3-1-1-1-3. They make for impressive reading by anyone's standards and therefore Ballylanigan is a major player with McCoy booked and the step up in trip in his favour. City Heights was brought down on his final Irish point-to-point run and it will be interesting to see how his confidence is today, Alfie's Isle has some (rather modest) experience of these hurdles, whilst Gemini Ahhs made a decent impression in three bumper runs and his trainer has a 24% strike-rate here in recent seasons. The step up in trip should suit Scalleys Run so watch the market there is the advice, whilst Wricksons Bridge is another point-to-pointer who looks to be starting off at the right trip. Most of these will go on to much better things over fences, however today may be the day for Cottage Acre.
Alfie's Isle 11-2 (11-2) Chased leader, led after 9th, headed 3 out, not keen at all when weakening approaching last, last of 4, 21l behind Englishtown (11-10) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jun.
Ballylanigan (IRE) 5-2 (12-0) Ww, prog 4out, 3rd aftr 3out, cl 3rd last, qcknd well run in, won at Castletown-Geoghegan 3m ire ptp in Oct beating Casey Top (12-0) by nk, 10 ran.
City Heights (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Mid div when brd 3rd, in a race won by Where's My Soul (12-0) at Ballydurn 3m ire ptp in Apr, 11 ran.
Cottage Acre (IRE) 8-11 (12-0) Mostly 3rd till ld from 4out, chall from 3out, 1L ld last, kow to hold runner up cl home, won at Killaloe 3m ire ptp in Feb beating Glen Lord (12-0) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Gemini Ahhs (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Always prominent, led over 2f out, soon hung right, headed well over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Pure Faith (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Jun.
Light Touch (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place over 5f out, 5th of 7, 29l behind Sonny Mullen (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f NH flat (6) gf.
Ralahine (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 35l behind Danehill Willy (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m nov stks (3) gd in Jun.
Scalleys Run 8-1 (10-11) Raced keenly, left in lead after 1st, headed 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 12, 32l behind Hope Road (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Jun.
Thematis 66-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, weakened after 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Knighton Combe (11-7) at Folkestone 3m 7f hts chs (5) gf in May, 14 ran.
Trace Elements (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Led to 2nd, remained close up, weakened from 10th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Wolf Moon (11-6) at Uttoxeter 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May, 13 ran.
Wricksons Bridge (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden halfway, beaten 3f out, 3rd of 11, 23l behind Danimix (10-7) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gf in Jun.
Mistress Kaytee 33-1 (11-0) With leaders, blundered 4th, blundered 8th, soon weakened, 5th of 14, 40l behind Devon Native (10-11) at Southwell 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) gd in Jun.
Starlight Air 13-2 (11-0) Held up mid-division, chased leaders after 3 out, chased winner approaching last, no impression, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Devon Native (10-11) at Southwell 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) gd in Jun.
Karahalla 100-1 (10-3) Struggling 5th, soon well behind, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Havenstone (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gd in Jun, 14 ran.
