held up towards rear, effort to chased leaders 3 out, soon driven and outpaced, ridden next, never on terms
bumped 1st, in touch on outside, dropped to mid-dvision 2nd, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next
led, headed after 2 out, ridden and outpaced when lost 2nd between last 2, no impression approaching last
mid-division on inside, headway 4th, went 2nd 3 out, led after next, ridden and drifted left flat, stayed on
held up in rear, lost touch 3 out, tailed off
held up behind, not fluent 2nd, pushed along 4th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden and effort to chase winner between last 2, stayed on same pace, always held
jumped left 1st, tracked leader, blundered 4th, lost place 3 out, weakened from next
in touch on inside, lost place 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened from next
This is an interesting maiden hurdle with some nice types entered but hopefully this contest can go to RUDOPLH ahead of Blue Spartan and Niceonefrankie. The selection has a 518 day absence to overcome but has the best form of those to have raced. He finished second to a Nicholls hotpot who has since gone on to achieve a rating in the 130s. He also had some decent types well back in third and fourth. If fit enough, the Eve Johnson Houghton horse could win this well. Blue Spartan put in a decent effort in a first time tongue tie 11 days ago and with that training aid applied again he could go well. Niceonfrankie was second to a horse of Jim Goldie's who has since gone on to score again. However, the Goldie horse won again over three miles and Niceonefrankie was beaten over two so he may be vulnerable to speedier types. A very interesting newcomer from the Jonjo O'Neill yard is I Can Run Can You. Tony McCoy gets the leg up on this four-year-old gelding, who is from the same family as Brave Inca and Racing Demon. If the money comes for this one he would be a betting proposition with that pedigree.
Blue Spartan (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway halfway, chased leaders after 3 out, kept on same pace, never able to challenge, 2nd of 16, 1 1/4l behind Tzora (11-0) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) gf.
Burnthill (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Mid div, prog to 2nd aft 9th, sn wknd & pu 3out, in a race won by That Beats Banaher (12-0) at Punchestown 3m ire ptp in Feb, 12 ran.
Just One Thing (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Soon tracking leader, every chance when stumbled badly and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Master Fong (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gf, 12 ran.
Roodolph 10-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden to chase winner after 3 out, hit next, kept on but always held, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Shamari (11-0) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov '08.
Billy Beetroot (USA) 20-1 (9-6) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, 11l behind Bentley (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f sell stks (6) pol in Dec (flat).
I Can Run Can You (IRE) Old Vic gelding out of Merry Batim.
Niceonefrankie 10-1 (10-12) Led from 2nd until 4th, remained close up, every chance last, not quicken flat, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Tillietudlem (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Sir Bere (FR) 11-1 (11-0) Held up, jumped slowly 3rd, not fluent next, hampered 5th, soon struggling, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Puzzlemaster (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (2) gd.
Kaliski (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Flaming Gorge (11-0) at Chepstow 2m NH mdn hdl (4) hvy.
