tracked leader, led 3rd, ridden approaching last, clear flat, eased close home
held up, ridden 3 out, weakened next
held up in mid-div, headway after 4 out, ridden and outpaced 3 out, staying on when hit last
headed, badly hampered and unseated rider 2nd
always behind, weakened after 4 out
soon tracking leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up in mid-division, hit 3 out when weakening
in rear, ridden 3 out, kept on from next, never dangerous
held up mid-divsion, weakened from 2 out
mid-division, weakened 4 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on no chance with winner
always behind
chased leaders, badly hampered 2nd, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up and pulled hard, rapid headway to lead and jumped badly right 2nd, ran wide stable bend, headed next, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, hit last, soon weakened
The Ring showed promise on his hurdling debut at Wetherby last month and has to be respected, along with stablemate Tomasino, but preference is for Shuhood who gets the vote over Low Cloud. The last mentioned was all out when making a winning debut over hurdles at Sedgefield last month and is entitled to be thereabouts but the opposition here looks stiffer and it is hard to get away from Shuhood. Paul Webber's gelding showed ability from limited opportunities with Ed Dunlop on the flat and has transferred that ability to the winter game as well, latterly when justifying short odds at Ludlow in April. Lack of a recent run should not be a problem as the stable are more than capable of producing a horse fit after an absence and the son of Kingmambo should have too much class for his rivals. Brian Ellison's Jimmy Byrne found just Honest Endeavour too good at Hexham first time up and is entitled to respect along with Malcolm Jefferson's bumper winner Roman Ark, who has shown a decent level of form in two starts over hurdles. Richard Phillips has been patient with Reseda who has not been seen since winning the second of two bumper races he won over two years ago and is probably bets watched. Of more interest may be the Philip Hobbs-trained La Dolfina who was brought down on her first start over hurdles. Shuhood has look potentially useful though and Paul Webber's gelding gets the vote.
