soon in rear
held up towards rear, headyway 4th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened flat
led, headed briefly after 3rd, headed 2 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, headway 3 out, ridden and weakened 2 out
held up in rear, ridden and stayed on from 2 out
tracked leader, led briefly after 3rd, led 2 out, ridden and headed close home
tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, switched left approaching last, switched right flat, ran on to lead close home
always rear
in touch, ridden after 3 out, every chance last, edged left flat one pace
This is a really competitive handicap hurdle but we will side with the course and distance winner Hasty Prince to get the better of Mahogany Blaze and Nathos. The selection has not been seen out since April but he won a very competitive event at Sandown last time and he had previously run with great credit at the Cheltenham Festival. He looks a classy sort and with his yard in form and a proven ability to handle the ground he is difficult to oppose. Mahogany Blaze will give him the most to think about as he won well on this track last time and with the step-up in trip also in his favour he is expected to go well. Nathos has not been seen since finishing down the field in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham. He had previously been beaten a distance at Fontwell and although he does have the ability to get competitive here, others are preferred. Saltango ran a blinder at Aintree on his last outing to finish second behind Strangely Brown and a reproduction of that effort would make him competitive here, but he is probably better over slightly further. This is a cracking race and we will side with Hasty Prince to lead them home.
Attorney General (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Always behind, 14th of 20, well behind My Way de Solzen (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Hasty Prince 14-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, hit 4th, smooth headway approaching 2 out, chased leading pair between last 2, led last, drew clear, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Apr beating Salut Saint Cloud (10-3) by 4l, 17 ran.
Mahogany Blaze (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 4 out, joined leader 2 out, led soon after, edged right flat, won at Chepstow 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gd beating Ameeq (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Limerick Boy (GER) 18-1 (11-3) Mid-division, pushed along after 11th, weakening when fell 5 out in race won by State of Play (10-2) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 18 ran.
Nathos (GER) 50-1 (11-7) Never better than mid-division, 16th of 30, 25l behind Sky's The Limit (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Saltango (GER) 16-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, every chance next, kept on same pace, 2nd of 24, 2l behind Strangely Brown (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr.
Taranis (FR) 5-4fav (11-10) Raced wide, held up in touch, headway to track leading pair 12th, closed going strongly on bit to lead 2 out, soon clear, readily, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (3) gd in Apr beating Amicelli (11-6) by 8l, 7 ran.
Mythical King (IRE) 40-1 (11-6) In rear, behind from 7th, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Absolut Power (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Brads House (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Mid-division, lost place 3rd, slightly hampered 4 out, kept on one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 13, 8l behind Mahogany Blaze (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gd.
