held up, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, ridden when not fluent last, eased towards finish
towards rear, ridden after 5th, headway approaching 2 out, ran on flat to go 2nd close home
pulled hard in touch, led after 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra flat
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakening when mistake last
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden when hit 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, ridden approaching 5th, soon weakened
chased leaders to 5th, behind when mistake 3 out
not fluent, mid-division, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, weakening when jump left 2 out
prominent and keen, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened quickly
keen, mid-division, headway 4th, weakened after next
led, ridden and headed after 3 out, soon weakened
Akram gets the confident vote here with Copper Bay and Next Lord rating the main dangers. The selection was much better than all these rivals on the flat is sure to have been well schooled for this his hurdling debut and he need only put in a clear round to score. Copper Bay rates the main danger as he hails from a yard in top form and they have a healthy strike rate in these types of events so he should be noted in the market. Next Lord hails from a shrewd yard and should be noted in the market but his over all profile leaves him with a little to find. The remainder have shown very little and are readily opposed and for the winner we return to Akram who need only put in a clear round to score.
Caribou (FR) 50-1 (9-13) Unplaced behind Gold Heart (10-3) at Auteuil 2m1f110y hdl hvy in June.
Cava Bien 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 4th, outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on well flat, 4th of 16, 2 1/2l behind Baie des Flamands (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (E) gd in Nov.
Copper Bay (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Led after 2f, hung right 5f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 2nd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Mineko (8-9) at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) sft in Oct (Flat).
Golden Square 25-1 (10-12) Chased leader until weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 8, 15l behind Alfred The Great (10-12) at Sandown 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gs in Nov.
He's A Star 12-1 (11-0) Held up well in rear, stayed on approaching last, never nearer, 4th of 13, 17l behind Sasso (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Next Lord (FR) (9-1) Led to over 1f out, soon beaten, unplaced behind Almaguer (9-5) at Maisons-Laffitte 1m 2f clm gs in Nov, 19 ran (Flat).
The Iron Giant (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Upset in stalls, tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd before halfway, dropped to 5th approaching straight, soon no extra, last of 9, 17l behind Tarkesar (9-2) at Gowran Park 1m 1f mdn stk gf in Jun (Flat).
Akram (IRE) 5-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd, improved into 2nd 2f out, led approaching straight, soon ridden clear, comfortably, won at Galway 1m hcp 60-92 gf in Jul beating Charismatic Cat (9-11) by 3l, 6 ran (Flat).
