chased leaders, ridden and struggling 5th
held up in rear, headway 3 out, chased leading pair 2 out, left moderate 2nd last, lost 2nd last strides
held up in rear, never dangerous
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, kept on run-in, went 2nd last stride, no chance with winner
towards rear, not much room on inside 3rd, mistake 5th, weakened soon after 3 out
chased leaders until weakened approaching 3 out
chased leader, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, led 2 out, narrow lead when blundered and fell last
mid-division, ridden 3 out, headway 2 out, stayed on under pressure run-in
chased leaders until ridden and weakened soon after 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, challenging and upsides when left well clear last
chased leaders, weakening when blundered 2 out
towards rear, mistake 5th, soon struggling
always about same place in mid-division
led, headed 2 out, weakened soon after
mistake 1st, behind after next
A big field for this maiden hurdle and the ones to concentrate on look to be Quaddick Lane, Greenlough, Sendani and Snap Tie and the tentative vote is with Greenlough. The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained mare did pretty well in points before a resounding bumper success last season at Bangor. Put away after that she makes here reappearance now with this hurdling debut. Clearly there is plenty of scope for improvement, she handles good to soft, and the yard is still going well so we'll side with her. Snap Tie perhaps achieved more than most of these when runner-up in a decent Newbury bumper in March. He also has experience here at the track, and he is likely to be on the premises. Quaddick Lane has one from one in points and makes his racecourse debut here for David Pipe. Watch the market for clues there, while Sendani has won on good to soft on the flat and ran respectably at Aintree over hurdles in May. He is likely to be tuned up pretty well for this return to action, but Greenlough is the choice to break his maiden.
Cactus King 16-1 (9-4) Took keen hold, in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 12, 13l behind Night Cru (9-1) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Jun (Flat).
Commander Kev (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Prominent, ridden and led 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Its A Dream (11-11) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb '06.
Imperial Harry 13-2 (11-0) Never nearer, 7th of 20, 34l behind Mexican Bob (11-0) at Lingfield 2m mdn hdl (5) sft.
Most Definitely (IRE) 3-1 (10-11) Held up last, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 35l behind Levitski (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
My Old Piano (IRE) 9-4fav (11-10) Mid-division, progress on inner 6f out, 2nd travelling easily entering straight, led over 2 1/2f out, ridden and headed 1 1/2f out, one pace, 5th of 25, 4 1/2l behind Presley (11-7) at Navan 2m nhf gf in May.
Newby Abbey (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 8f out, chased winner 4f out until over 1f out, soon beaten, 3rd of 18, 19l behind Peters Star (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f nhf (5) gd in May.
Peak Seasons (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Always behind, 15th of 16, well behind Gus (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Sept.
Quaddick Lake (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Prominent, effort last, stayed on to lead close home, won at Belharbour pt-to-pt, 2m4f gd-sft in Feb, beating Seabass (11-7) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Sendani (FR) 11-2 (10-10) In touch, jumped slowly 4th, chased winner 6th until approaching 3 out, ridden to go 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Zilcash (11-2) at Aintree 2m nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Sienna Storm (IRE) 6-5fav (9-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, one pace, 5th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Birkside (9-6) at Redcar 1m 2f sll (5) gd (Flat).
Snap Tie (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-11) In touch, making steady headway when slightly hampered over 4f out, stayed on to chase winner over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 2nd of 22, 3 1/2l behind Helens Vision (10-8) at Newbury 2m nhf (5) gs in Mar.
Taipan's Promise (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) In touch, took closer order 7f out, ridden to chase winner 3f out, kept on, always held, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Blackthorn Boy (11-4) at Fontwell 1m 6f nhf (6) gf in Apr.
Truckers Delight (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Behind until some late headway, never nearer, 5th of 12, 7l behind Artic Bliss (10-5) at Stratford 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Zirkel (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) In touch, ridden 3 out, led briefly approaching 2 out, soon one pace, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Sayago (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) gf.
Greenlough (IRE) 3-1 (10-10) Prominent, led halfway, clear 3f out, easily, won at Bangor 2m 1f mrs nhf (6) gs in Oct '06 beating Single Handed (10-10) by 11l, 12 ran.
Ruby Valentine (FR) 33-1 (10-0) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, switched right between last 2, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Zilcash (11-2) at Aintree 2m nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Symbiosis 7-2jt-fav (11-7) Led, jumped right 3rd and 4th, hung right from after 6th, headed 2 out, 2 lengths 3rd, held when mistake last, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Heavenly Chorus (10-13) at Southwell 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (5) gf in Mar.
