led, hit 3 out, ridden when headed after next, weakened last
tracked leaders, led after 2 out, headed flat, kept on same pace
always prominent, switched left to challenge approaching last, soon hard driven, ran on strongly to lead closing stages, readily
chased leaders, driven to challenge after 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, weakened before 4th, soon beaten
always towards rear, jumped slowly throughout, mistake 5th, never dangerous, modest 5th
Harristown failed to cope with a penalty at Warwick having won on his hurdling debut at Newton Abbot in October and AALIM makes more appeal on his first start over obstacles as he scored on the Flat for Godolphin last month and has since joined John Ferguson. The latter is preferred to fellow hurdling debutants Bold And Free and Handiwork but Kalimantan, a winner on the Flat in France, is worth noting on his first outing for new connections. Innsbruck is a maiden winner on the level though he'll need to step up on a modest effort over timber at Sedgefield last time.
Harristown 11-8fav (11-5) Held up in touch on inside, niggled along from after 4th, ridden and beaten in 3rd before 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Herod The Great (11-5) at Warwick 2m 3yo hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Aalim 8-11fav (9-4) Held up in rear, headway on outer to track 6f out, led entering final 4f, ridden and headed narrowly entering final 2f, rallied to lead again inside final furlong, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov beating Eton Dorney (9-10) by shd, 7 ran (flat).
Bold And Free 12-1 (8-12) Prominent, led 5f out, ridden and headed 3f out, still every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Dynastic (8-10) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Nov (flat).
Handiwork 11-4fav (9-2) Took keen hold tracking leaders on outside, went 2nd halfway, every chance 2f out, soon ridden in 3rd, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Pereira (9-2) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) sft in Oct (flat).
Innsbruck 6-4 (10-12) Soon chased leaders, not fluent 5th, went 3rd before 3 out, soon ridden, one pace from 2 out, 6th of 10, 10l behind War Lord (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Kalimantan (IRE) (9-2) 2nd of 10, 2l behind Arkhip (9-2) at Deauville(FR) 1m 7f 3yo stk gd in Jun (flat).
Last Chance Ranch 66-1 (10-5) Close up up in rear, pushed along 5th, ridden next, kept on, never a factor, 4th of 5, 14l behind Tiger Roll (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Spithead 20-1 (8-6) Held up mid-division, pushed along and weakened over 3f out, 8th of 9, 30l behind Zaitsev (8-5) at Ripon 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Jun (flat).
