always prominent, led approaching 3 out, soon strongly challenged, hard ridden last, stayed on well under pressure
always behind, struggling 4th, soon detatched, pulled up before 4 out
raced keenly in touch, every chance 3 out, not fluent next, hard ridden to challenge last, no extra closing stages
chased leaders, lost place before 4 out
held up in touch, lost place approaching 6th, soon beaten
led 1st, remained prominent, under pressure after 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, hard driven approaching next, soon one pace
held up in mid-division, headway before 4 out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on approaching last, never able to challenge
chased leaders, hard ridden 3 out, soon weakened
led after 1st, headed approaching 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, headway 4 out, soon driven, weakening when blundered 2 out, pulled up before last
soon steadied towards rear, some late headway, never dangerous
in rear when jumped awkwardly and unseated rider 1st
raced keenly in touch, weakened quickly after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
HIGHLAND VALLEY'S defeat of Daring Origyn over 2m6f here in November has worked out well and Emma Lavelle's chestnut was far from disgraced when fourth in a Grade 2 contest at Cheltenham subsequently. Despite conceding 7lb, he may outstay Araldur who ran Nobunaga to a head over 2m1f at Huntingdon last month but has struggled to get home when stepped up in trip in the past. Cap Elorn doesn't look likely to become one of Paul Nicholls' stable stars, while points winner Ruby Bay will probably need this. Hard Tackle, fifth in a well-contested bumper at Ascot on his racecourse bow, is worth noting for future reference however.
Highland Valley (IRE) 3-1fav (11-4) Held up in touch, not fluent 6th, effort on wide outside approaching 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure approaching last, no impression flat, 4th of 9, 9l behind Mossley (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Dec.
Alfie Brown 100-1 (11-2) Soon struggling in rear, lost touch halfway, tailed off, last of 18, well behind Mizzurka (10-6) at Newbury 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Dec '09.
Araldur (FR) 7-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, went 2nd when not fluent 5th, soon pushed along, every chance from 2 out, stayed on, 2nd of 14, hd behind Nobunaga (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Cap Elorn (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, 6th of 18, 6l behind Furrows (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Hard Tackle (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway on inside over 4f out, ridden along 3f out out, chased leaders soon after, one pace and no impression final 2f, 5th of 12, 14l behind Twentyfourcarat (11-0) at Ascot 2m NH flat (4) gs in Nov.
Inca Cave (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Behind, ridden approaching 6th, headway 4 out, never on terms, 5th of 12, 44l behind Victors Serenade (11-4) at Towcester 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Just Cloudy 10-1 (11-0) Raced wide, behind, headway after 4th, close up after 4 out, hung right on bend under pressure and weakened before 3 out, 7th of 12, 36l behind Storming Gale (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Lundy Sky 66-1 (11-4) Pulled hard in rear, struggling 5f out, 14th of 20, 37l behind Megastar (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nat hunt flat Grade 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Numbercruncher (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Always rear-division, tailed off, 13th of 20, well behind African Broadway (11-2) at Newbury 2m NH flat (5) gs in Dec.
Ruby Bay (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Alw pr, lft ld 3out, row, clr bef last, slow jump, qknd well, snug, won at Maralin 3m ire ptp gd in Mar beating Mister Philson (12-0) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Spirit Of Barbados (IRE) 22-1 (11-2) Led for 2f, chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 17, 25l behind Avoca Promise (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f NH flat (5) gd in Dec.
Well Refreshed 66-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 14, well behind Poungach (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) gs in Jan.
Cruise In Luxury (IRE) Definite Article mare out of Galvina.
Racey Lacey 28-1 (10-5) Mid-division, ridden along 6f out, soon lost place, tailed off, 12th of 13, well behind Zama Zama (10-7) at Warwick 1m 6f 3yo nhf (5) gs in Nov.
Midnight Charmer 200-1 (11-4) Towards rear, behind 6th, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Sinbad The Sailor (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gd.
