tracked leaders, outpaced approaching 2 out, kept on from last, went 2nd towards finish
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place after 3rd
held up, chased leaders 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on well
tracked leaders, led after 2nd, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, jumped left and weakened from 3 out, pulled up before last
held up, chased leaders approaching 2 out, weakened from last
held up, weakened 4th,pulled up before last
led, headed after 2nd, led again and not fluent approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, weakened flat
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, no extra from last
CUNNING CLARETS should step up on his promising debut second and take this ahead of perhaps Birch Hill Bedoin and What A Steel. Richard Fahey's gelding ran well in two moderate National Hunt flat races, winning the second of them, before taking fifth in the Aintree bumper in the spring. Sent off a well-backed favourite for his hurdling debut the four-year-old found just the one too good and should be able to gain compensation here under almost identical conditions. Should the likely favourite disappoint then Birch Hill Bedoin holds solid credentials and might take advantage. Sue Smith's charge was a long way behind the Fahey horse when they met last time but perhaps needed the run and in a weak race might have a chance of closing the gap. What A Steel unseated his rider at the first on Sunday having taken fourth behind a very promising individual a week before. Conditions should suit this gelding and although he must build on that effort behind Washington Irving that remains possible and he may tempt each way backers as a viable alternative to the likely favourite. Mole Control is worthy of a mention representing powerful connections but this one will need to step up massively on a poor debut when pulled up in what in fairness looked a better contest than this, whilst Macdougal hails from an in-form stable and should relish any give underfoot, but this looks best left to Cunning Clarets.
Also Jo 100-1 (10-11) Led, jumped left and mistake 1st, headed next, weakened well before 3 out, went badly left 2 out and last, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Bellvano (11-0) at Newbury 2m NH mdn hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Birch Hill Bedouin 14-1 (10-12) Prominent, lost place after 4 out, 6th of 14, 24l behind Lightening Rod (10-9) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Cunning Clarets (IRE) 11-8fav (10-12) Held up mid-division, tracked leaders 4 out, ridden to lead approaching last, headed after last, no extra, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Lightening Rod (10-9) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Eco Story (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, weakened quickly over 4f out, 14th of 16, well behind Malakai (10-12) at Hexham 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Macdougal (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon lost place, 8th of 9, 38l behind Peddlers Cross (11-0) at Haydock 2m NH flat (4) sft in Nov.
Mole Control (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Held up and keen, weakened after 4 out, blundered 2 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Turbo Island (10-9) at Ayr 2m hdl (3) sft, 10 ran.
Super Ally (IRE) 150-1 (10-11) In touch on outside, lost place 5th, soon behind, 12th of 16, well behind Quantitativeeasing (11-0) at Newcastle 2m NH Maiden Hurdle (4-6yo) (5) gs in Nov.
Transact (IRE) 5-1 (10-6) Held up, tracked leaders over 3f out, soon outpaced, 5th of 10, 14l behind Witherspoon (10-13) at Ayr 2m NH flat (6) sft in Mar.
Uncle Michael 66-1 (9-11) In touch, outpaced approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 15, 25l behind Etoile d'Or (10-2) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
What A Steel (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Held up, unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Hollins (11-0) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft, 14 ran.
