held up, headway 7th, led after 2 out, challenged, headed flat
mid-division, headway after 6th, close up 3 out, weakened after 2 out
in rear, ridden, effort 3 out, weakened 2 out
towards rear, headway 7th, ridden, weakened 2 out
in touch, led 7th, headed next, weakened
mid-division, headway to join leaders after 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, headway 7th, chasing leaders when mistake, weakened after 2 out
held up, headway 7th, led 3 out, jumped right, headed 2 out, kept on to lead again flat
led, headed 7th, weakened next
mid-division, lost place, behind approaching 6th
towards rear, headway 4 out, soon ridden, weakening when mistake 2 out
towards rear, blundered 1st, effort after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, gradually fading
in touch, ridden after 3 out, one pace
tracked leaders, close up when mistake, weakened 3 out
in touch, weakened 6th, soon behind
tracked leaders, weakened 7th
Though it will not be easy trying to give 10lb away to the field, Crocodiles Rock looks the one to be on in this division of the novices' hurdle, with Hillridge likely to show us that he is better than his Chepstow run. Crocodiles Rock improved on some decent bumper form when winning on his hurdling debut over this trip at Aintree in October. Jonjo O'Neill has kept him at home until now, and given that we know he has plenty of ability, goes well fresh and handles cut in the ground he is a confident choice here. Ben De Haan has his string in good order and Hillridge goes for him here. The five-year-old won a Chepstow bumper in the spring and was stepped up to this trip on soft ground back at that track last month, though he was pulled up there after being hampered. At least the run will have helped straighten him out and he can go very well in this field today. Pettifour went close in a couple of bumpers last year and this ground plus the step up in trip should certainly suit, so he can make the frame again. Cooldine Boy should come on for an Aintree maiden hurdle run in November and would not have to improve much to take a close hand in this, but Crocodiles Rock has plenty going for him and can give weight away all around and go in again.
Crocodiles Rock (IRE) 4-9fav (10-12) Held up, headway 7th, led approaching 3 out, ridden clear from last, won at Aintree 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct beating Laborec (10-12) by 7l, 9 ran.
Carrig An Uisce (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Settled 3rd, close up after 4 out, led 3 out, soon ridden and strongly pressed, kept on under pressure, veered badly left close home, all out, won at Downpatrick 2m 2f hacp hdl gs in Mar '06 beating Carmens Boy (11-2) by a nk. Later dsq to.
Choumakeur (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden 8th, soon behind, 7th of 9, well behind Herecomesthetruth (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Cooldine Boy (IRE) 22-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden next, one pace, 4th of 18, 10l behind Sir Monty (11-5) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Fal Agh Bagh (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders until 4f out, 9th of 12, 39l behind The Big Orse (10-13) at Newbury 2m nhf (5) sft in Dec.
Hillridge 14-1 (10-12) Prominent, hung badly right after 4th, soon lost place and in rear, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by What A Friend (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec, 15 ran.
Morenito (FR) 14-1 (10-10) Prominent, ridden 6f out, soon slightly outpaced, rallied 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 13, 28l behind Hello You (11-4) at Worcester 2m nhf (6) gf in Apr.
Pettifour (IRE) 9-4fav (10-13) Chased leaders, led over 4f out, headed 2f out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 18, 2 1/2l behind Broughton Green (11-2) at Warwick 2m nhf (5) sft in Dec.
Sacred Bull 100-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, driven 4th, weakened 8th, soon tailed off, last of 7, well behind Pocket Aces (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) sft.
Sailor's Sovereign 100-1 (10-9) Held up behind, pushed along after 4th, weakened 4 out, last of 9, 46l behind Folie Dancer (10-5) at Haydock 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
So Now (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Held up, headway 4 out, never on terms, 5th of 15, 29l behind What A Friend (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
This Way (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Pulled hard, prominent, weakened 3f out, 9th of 14, 27l behind Spud (11-4) at Worcester 2m mdn nhf (6) gf in Apr.
Tisfreetdream (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Behind, headway before 3 out, never on terms, 4th of 14, 26l behind Ballyboley (11-5) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Twenti Twenti (IRE) 125-1 (11-0) Always behind, 14th of 18, well behind Khyber Kim (11-0) at Newbury 2m hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Wizards Dust 80-1 (10-12) Towards rear, some headway 7th, never dangerous, 9th of 16, well behind Cryptic (11-5) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Zaffarani's Star 66-1 (11-2) Led, headed 4f out, weakened, 10th of 16, 23l behind The Apprentice (10-13) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) gd in Nov.
