chased leader, led 3 out, driven approaching last, headed flat, held final 100 yards, kept on
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, well beaten from 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, driven after 2 out, weakening when hampered last
mid-division, raced keenly, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and still pressing leaders in 6th when fell last
held up in rear, headway 2 out, kept on flat, unable to challenge
chased leaders, ridden approaching last, held flat, kept on
held up in rear, mistake 4 out, pushed along 3 out, staying on but still a bit to do when mistake and left 7th last, never on terms
chased leaders, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last
reluctant down at the start, held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, went 3rd after last, switched right and stayed on, no impression on winner inside final 100 yards
held up in mid-division, not fluent 4th, hung left and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, shaken up 3 out, soon beaten, pulled up before last
led until 3 out, still bang there last, weakened final 100 yards
held up in mid-division, lost place 3rd, last 5th, well behind when pulled up before 3 out
in touch in mid-division, improved well off final bend, pressing for 2nd last, led flat, stayed on well, in command final 100 yards
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A brilliant renewal of this long-established Grade 3 with the weights headed by the smart Ballyandy, a Grade 2 winner at the start of the year and second to subsequent Elite Hurdle winner Sceau Royal in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las on his reappearance – he should again beat Milkwood. Edwardstone, who looked a nice prospect early last season, has been popular in the ante-post market and Alan King also runs last year’s winner Harambe, who was still travelling when brought down at the last in the Betfair Hurdle in February. Sebastopol was improving fast last season and the lightly-weighted Proschema could figure. Cormier could be anything while Tegerek landed a gamble over course and distance last month. Paul Nicholls has won this twice with a four-year and saddles two this year. Sir Psycho probably didn’t stay an extended 2m3f at Chepstow but Harry Cobden prefers THYME WHITE, who won over 2m at the same track without breaking sweat. He’s been raised 11lb and is upped in grade but will appreciate the likely stronger pace and is clearly heading in the right direction.
Ballyandy 13-2 (11-10) Raced wide in mid-division, headway chasing leaders when hit 4 out, led before next, ridden and headed 2 out, chased winner after, well held, 2nd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Sceau Royal (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Tudor City (IRE) 80-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, no impression in rear after 3 out, kept on one pace, never a factor, 10th of 14, 33 3/4l behind Drop The Anchor (9-13) at Listowel 2m hcp sft in Sep.
Sir Psycho (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Prominent, not fluent 5th, ridden to join leaders 2 out (usual 3 out) narrow advantage last, headed before bypassed last flight, weakened, 5th of 11, 11 1/2l behind Tea Clipper (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Harambe 25-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway on heels of leaders when brought down last, at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Edwardstone 25-1 (11-7) Held up behind, headway 2 out, chased leaders turning in, soon ridden, outpaced before last, weakened flat, 6th of 15, 23 1/4l behind Shishkin (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Hunters Call (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, a little keen, soon prominent, led approaching 2nd, slight mistake 2 out, headed from last, no extra and one pace after, 4th of 19, 7 1/2l behind Aramon (11-10) at Galway 2m hcp Yielding in Jul.
Cormier (IRE) Evensfav (11-4) Held up towards rear, closer in mid-division 5th, 3rd travelling well before 3 out, 2nd after 2 out, led before last, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Fakenham 2m (4) gd in Oct beating Medalla De Oro (10-12) by 5 1/2l, 10 ran.
Strong Glance 9-2fav (10-7) Held up towards rear, not fluent 7th, headway going well from 2 out, switched left before 2 out, challenged last, ridden flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Jacamar (10-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Tegerek (FR) 5-1 (10-10) Just worse than midfield, pushed along and progress 3 out, prominent 2 out, jumped last well, stayed on strongly to lead run in, easily, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct beating One True King (10-11) by 5 1/2l, 17 ran.
Thinking (IRE) (10-7) won at Vichy 2m gd in Aug beating Yccs Portocervo (10-7) by 5 1/2l, 11 ran.
Proschema (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) In rear, progress to track leaders 3 out, asked to quicken approaching last, stayed on but always held, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Anemoi (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Ballinsker (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Led, headed 1st, tracked leader, led again before 3 out, pushed along and headed approaching 2 out, kept on but no match for winner, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Milkwood (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m (4) gs in Oct.
Countister (FR) 15-2 (11-3) Held up in mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, last of 8, dist behind Kid Commando (11-4) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Oct.
The Shunter (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Waited with, 10th from 6th, soon in rear briefly, headway again before next, slight mistake 9th, 6th approaching 4 out, headway to chase leaders straight, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 11, 12l behind Home By The Lee (11-2) at Cork 2m 4f (1) sft in Nov.
Sebastopol (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Mid-division, reminders after 5th, outpaced 4 out, headway under pressure before next, challenged 2 out, soon ridden and hung right, led approaching last, held on under pressure flat, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) gs in Feb beating Ashington (10-8) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Thyme White (FR) 6-1 (11-1) Keen in mid-division on inside, smooth headway tracking leaders, 2nd 3 out, led going well next, clear before last, stayed on well, won at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct beating The Pink'n (11-3) by 3l, 12 ran.
Milkwood (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear and keen, good headway chasing leaders travelling well before 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 12, 5 1/2l behind Sceau Royal (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Pisgah Pike (IRE) 4-6fav (11-7) Prominent, hit 1st, moved up to challenge and led 2 out, ridden clear last, ran on well flat, won at Plumpton 2m (4) gd in Oct beating Peace Prevails (10-7) by 5 1/2l, 13 ran.
