held up, headway after 6th, chased winner before next, beaten approaching 3 out
not fluent, always in rear, behind from 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, lost touch approaching 7th, went poor 3rd after 8th, tailed off
made all, clear when mistake 3 out, hit 2 out, eased flat
in touch, chased winner 5th until approaching 7th, weakened before next, tailed off
chased winner to 5th, weakening when not fluent next, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
William's Wishes is bound to be popular with backers having shown a decent level of form over hurdles this season with a win here and placed efforts in all four other starts and he should again be involved at the business end of the race but a better bet looks to be QUENTIN COLLONGES, who gets the vote with Iron Steve rated the pick of the remainder. The selection earned a rating of 122 (4lbs higher than William's Wishes) last season and receiving 7lbs from the Evan Williams-trained gelding he looks worth siding with on his seasonal reappearance. Papradon and Ten Hour Lunch make very limited appeal and are likely to be playing for minor honours only and of more interest may be Substitute. John Carr's gelding has shown ability in Ireland and has to be considered on his British debut. Iron Steve similarly showed ability in three starts in bumpers for Nigel Twiston-Davies and has to be of interest on his hurdling debut but Quentin Collonges has an obvious chance and he gets the vote.
William's Wishes (IRE) 6-5fav (11-5) Chased winner to after 2nd, chased winner again after 6th, travelling well approaching 2 out, challenged last, kept on under pressure flat, unable to head winner, 2nd of 4, nk behind Risk (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Iron Steve (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and held when raced wide on bend over 2f out, soon no impression, 5th of 14, 33l behind King Of The Night (11-0) at Stratford 2m NH flat (6) gf in Sep.
Papradon 28-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 6th, well beaten before 2 out, 9th of 10, 27l behind Qianshan Leader (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gd.
Quentin Collonges (FR) 11-1 (11-0) Led 1st, not fluent 3rd, hit 6th, headed after 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 7, 32l behind Bensalem (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Substitute (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden in 4th 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, 7th of 25, 21l behind Blazing Beacon (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn hdl.
Ten Hour Lunch 80-1 (10-8) In touch, ridden after 4th, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Another Bottle (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jun.
