led until after 3rd, lost place approaching 6th, tailed off
held up in rear, effort approaching 3 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, not fluent, headway after 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
held up, always behind, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway on outside 5th, ridden after last, ran on well, just failed
tracked leaders, led after 3rd, ridden last, headed flat, no extra close home
with leader until after 6th, 4th and beaten when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
took keen hold, soon handy, not much room and lost place approaching 6th, headway approaching 3 out, hit 2 out, weakened last
tracked leaders, raced keenly, went 2nd approaching 3 out, soon ridden, challenging when not fluent 2 out, wandered approaching last, led flat, just held on
held up rear, headway when hampered 3 out, never near leaders
in touch, raced keenly, lost place approaching 5th, headway after next, hung left on bend approaching 3 out, still tracking leaders when ran out 3 out
tracked leaders, lost place before 4th, headway 5th, ridden after next, stayed on one pace from 3 out
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened last
soon prominent, weakened 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
With not a huge amount to fear from those with experience, we will take newcomer MOGHAAYER to land the opener, while Exulto and Catholic Hill are other noteworthy debutants and both Sandynow and Russian War merit respect. The Nicky Henderson-trained selection will be well prepared for this, his British debut, and as a 1m 4f performer on the flat in France, he won't have any problem with this trip. Being by Sinndar and out of a Slip Achor mare, a sound surface is likely to suit and he is suggested. Philip Hobbs saddles Exulto, who won over 12f on good ground on the flat, also in France, and has similar sort of credentials, so probably won't be very far away. Catholic Hill is another of similar profile, though he was rated just 51 when winning a Kempton Polytrack contest a little over a year ago, and will probably need to be better over hurdles to win this. Russian War won a couple of Perth bumpers last year but has a bit to prove after failing to complete on either hurdles start, while Irish point winner Sandynow looks a useful recruit for Henry Daly but will probably want at least a bit of cut to be seen to best effect. Not a race to get heavily involved in and Moghaayer gets the nod.
Bankers Bonus (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, soon weakened, 14th of 17, well behind Mr Plod (10-7) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Boo 50-1 (11-0) In rear, not fluent 2nd, struggling 4th, 6th of 9, 47l behind The Jigsaw Man (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gf in Oct.
Catholic Hill (USA) 7-2fav (8-13) Held up in touch, ridden and effort 2f out, not quicken over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 8l behind Sainglend (9-4) at Windsor 1m 2f 3yo hcp (6) gd in Oct '08 (flat).
Dancing Sword 25-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no progress and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 14, 16l behind Ryedale Ovation (8-9) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Oct '08 (flat).
Disco Jack (FR) 22-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, weakened 4f out, 8th of 16, 48l behind Quideo De Touzaine (11-4) at Stratford 2m mdn NH flat (5) gs in Mar.
Exulto (IRE) (9-1) 4th of 14, 3l behind Eclipse D'artois (8-11) at Maisons-laffitte(FR) 1m 2f stk sft in Oct '08 (flat).
Magnitude 33-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, never in contention, 7th of 11, 19l behind Another Trump (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Aug.
Marino Prince (FR) 16-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, mistake 6th, headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 12l behind Three Ships (10-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Moghaayer (9-4) 2nd of 9, 8l behind Beaujeu (9-1) at Lyon-parilly(FR) 1m 4f 3yo hcp hvy in Oct '08 (flat).
Quick Live (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, mistake 3 out, never in contention, 6th of 11, 30l behind Aohna (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gd.
Russian War (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, weakened after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Now This Is It (10-11) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Sep, 12 ran.
Sandynow (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Ww in mid div, prog to 3rd 2out, hmprd bef last, 3rd bef last, qcknd well late, won at Toomebridge 3m ire ptp hvy in May beating Tweedys Choice (11-7) by 2l, 16 ran.
Spent 50-1 (9-7) Always in rear, 7th of 8, 16l behind Steig (9-8) at Brighton 1m clm stks (6) gd in Jun (flat).
Tancredi (SWE) 40-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, weakened 3 out, fell last, in a race won by Cape Greko (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m beg chase (4) gf in May '08, 8 ran.
Mister Trickster (IRE) 4-1 (10-4) Mid-division, some headway 3 out, no impression from next, 6th of 14, 18l behind Obara d'Avril (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Jun.
Kims Rose (IRE) 12-1 (8-7) Led or disputed lead to over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 11, 16l behind Dasheena (8-5) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec '07 (flat).
