tracked leaders, chased winner from 4th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, reminders 5th, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out
led to 1st, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
held up, went 3rd from 2nd, weakening when hit last
held up, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
led after 1st, hit 3 out, ridden next, driven out
held up, hit 2nd, chased leaders 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, hit last, every chance flat, not quicken
held up, mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out
soon well behind and not fluent, tailed off when pulled up before 5th
Paktolos gets the vote on his handicap debut to fend off the challenge of Sun Quest and Diego Velasquez. Alan Kings' charge has been campaigned on unsuitably soft ground on each of his three outings to date and one can expect a much improved effort on this quicker surface. His last outing on the flat was in a hot staying handicap won by the well handicapped Wing Express with the well supported Tropical Strait in second. That said, he does have the burden of 11-12 to contend with but his rivals appear very ordinary to say the least. Sun Quest has yet to get his head in front from 20 attempts but to his credit has some smart form in the book most notably a third placing at Thurles last season. Diego Velasquez could be the fly in the ointment. Formerly trained by Aiden O'Brien, he was pulled up quickly last time in the early stages but did display some promise in previous starts. Paktalos gets the nod to land this handicap hurdle.
Sun Quest 25-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, saddle slipped and pulled up at the 4th in race won by Your Amount (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd, 10 ran.
Paktolos (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division, keen, ridden when mistake 2 out, soon held, 7th of 16, 17l behind Pascha Bere (11-3) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Diego Velasquez (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Held up last, lost touch and pulled up at the 5th in race won by Warsaw Pact (11-11) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Apr, 5 ran.
Petrovka (IRE) 33-1 (10-3) Led until 3 out, weakening when hampered 2 out, 5th of 15, 29l behind Sentry Duty (11-3) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Lawgiver (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, weakened from 4th, hit next, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Muntami (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf, 11 ran.
Golden Feather 9-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, hit 5th, struggling from 7th, tailed off when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Incas (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Jul, 11 ran.
Boss Imperial (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, ridden and struggling 5th, 6th of 8, 28l behind Earlsfield Raider (10-11) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Apr.
Weet Yer Tern (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Jumped right, always behind, 11th of 14, well behind Cottingham (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Sunbolt (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Led to 3rd, weakened 3 out, 5th of 11, 36l behind Abstract Art (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Navelina 100-1 (10-12) Held up, never dangerous, 5th of 7, well behind Working Title (11-5) at Fakenham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
