led to 1st, chased leader, regained lead after 4th, hit 3 out, drew clear approaching next
tracked leaders and keen, chased winner after 3 out until flat, lost 3rd towards finish
with leader, led after 1st, hit and headed 4th, hit 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders and keen, ridden after 3 out, went 3rd approaching 2 out, kept on to chase winner flat, no impression
held up, ridden 3 out, no impression
held up in touch, weakened approaching 4th, tailed off from 3 out
held up, weakened 3 out
towards rear, effort after 3 out, never dangerous
held up mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression when blundered last
held up towards rear, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, tailed off 3 out
held up mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd towards finish
There are some potentially interesting newcomers in the field for this juvenile novices' hurdle including John Quinn's dual middle distance flat handicap winner Classic Contours and Alan King's lightly raced Tombov but BARIZAN sets a decent standard and is taken to win his third race on the bounce over hurdles. The selection has a double penalty to carry for his wins at Bangor and Newton Abbot but so too do Michael Chapman's Royal Max and Sheena West's Forty Thirty, who beat Royal Max last time, but their form does not match that of the Evan Williams-trained gelding. Pat Haslam's three-year-olds normally improve from their first start so there should be more to come from Miss Gibboa but there needs to be. Brian Ellison's Strikemaster stepped up on his debut effort over timber when winning at Cartmel on heavy ground last month and he should not be inconvenienced by the faster ground today but needs to improve to trouble the selection. Stable companion Lakeman is an interesting recruit from the flat and he could take a hand in the finish but Barizan has looked a decent recruit to the winter game and he is preferred.
Barizan (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Made all, set good gallop, clear approaching 4th, unchallenged, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gf in Aug beating Gulf President (10-12) by 28l, 10 ran.
Forty Thirty (IRE) 6-5fav (11-4) Held up in 5th, raced keenly, hit 3rd, headway to chase leader when mistake 3 out, led on bit just before last, easily, won at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gf beating Royal Max (11-3) by 4l, 6 ran.
Royal Max (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Led, not fluent 4th, clear next, ridden after 3 out, headed when not fluent last, soon beaten, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Forty Thirty (11-4) at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gf.
Strikemaster (IRE) 10-11fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, held up and behind from 3rd, went 2nd after last, soon hard ridden, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Cartmel 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) hvy in Aug beating Ravati (10-7) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Classic Contours (USA) 11-2 (9-2) Led, soon clear until over 5f out, headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 4l behind Veiled (9-7) at Redcar 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf (flat).
George Nympton (IRE) Alderbrook gelding out of Countess Camilla.
Guga (IRE) 7-2 (9-8) Slowly into stride, soon chased leaders, reminders over 3f out, driven to go third over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 5l behind Molly The Witch (8-12) at Yarmouth 1m 3yo sll (6) gd in Aug (flat).
Highland Storm 14-1 (10-12) In rear, headway after 3rd, jumped slowly and lost place next, behind after, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Rupestrian (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Jul.
Hunting Magic 50-1 (10-12) Jumped left 1st and fell, in a race won by Berriedale (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gf, 11 ran.
Lakeman (IRE) 18-1 (8-4) Held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, well beaten over 1f out, 11th of 12, 19l behind Collateral Damage (8-12) at Redcar 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf (flat).
Nicky Nutjob (GER) 80-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, kept on from last, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Tillietudlem (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd.
Richo 33-1 (8-1) Dropped out start, soon switched left, held up in rear, headway when switched right over 1f out, never near leaders, 6th of 11, 5l behind Collateral Damage (9-4) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd (flat).
Strong Storm (USA) 14-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden 6th, 4th and struggling when mistake and weakened 3 out, 4th of 9, 17l behind Evening Sunset (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gf.
Tombov (FR) 16-1 (9-10) Always in rear, tailed off, last of 6, 31l behind Point Of Light (9-8) at Bath 1m 4f 3yo app hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Aug (flat).
Miss Gibboa (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, effort when hit next, ridden and one pace approaching last, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Rupestrian (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
