prominent, weakened from 3 out
held up in touch, lost several places before 3 out, progress under pressure 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on well flat
with leader, blundered 3rd, lost 2nd just after 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, good headway 3 out, strong challenge 2 out until before last, weakened flat
held up in mid-division, progress and in touch 3 out, soon hung left and shaken up, weakened from 2 out
held up in touch, ridden along approaching 2 out, hung left but stayed on flat, took 2nd closing stages, no impression on winner
mid-division, headway 3 out, close up 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up and behind, took keen hold early, no progress after 3 out, stayed on to go 6th, not on terms when blundered badly last
took keen hold, held up, still going well enough, no progress after 3 out, beaten after 2 out, mistake last
led, ridden and strongly pressed from 2 out, headed approaching last, no impression on winner flat, lost 2nd closing stages
The slightest of nods goes to Corran Ard with Take The Breeze and King's Head just two of those to fear. Amour Multiple and Trouble At Bay have claims but neither could be said to be well handicapped. Oh Crick gave the form of Or Bleu's Exeter third a boost in the week but it would be no surprise if one of the three completely unexposed horses proved to be the joker in the pack. Take The Breeze finished third in a Listed hurdle after winning on debut and his connections will know what they have on their hands as will Gary Moore who's King's Head looks the first string on jockey bookings. He's had a pipe-opener on the Flat and could be well treated over hurdles as he's rated in the high nineties on the level but he's unproven with cut in the ground. The selection hasn't run for a long time but he also looks potentially well treated on a line through Pevensey who he beat in a maiden hurdle in December 2006. He won on the Flat after a similar break and is a horse of some potential, there are no problems with ground or trip so we'll take a chance with Corran Ard.
Amour Multiple (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) In touch, driven to chase leaders approaching 2 out, weakened and blundered last, 8th of 17, 14l behind Jack The Giant (11-0) at Ascot 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gf in Dec.
Trouble At Bay (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) In touch, hit 5th, went 3rd next, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 10th of 14, 28l behind Five Dream (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Manorson (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, kept on, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Natal (11-6) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (4) gd in Oct '06.
Mister Benedictine 50-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, soon headed, weakened after last, 8th of 18, 27l behind Backbord (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb.
Take The Breeze (FR) (10-8) Held up, good headway 2 out, no extra run-in, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Danigan (10-12) at Auteuil 2m 2f lst hdl (1) in Jun.
Border Castle 8-1 (11-5) Held up, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten, 6th of 7, 27l behind Chapoturgeon (10-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Sebastiano (FR) 12-1 (10-6) Always mid-division, 9th of 14, 19l behind Five Dream (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Bob Mountain (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Held up and behind, headway approaching 11th, ridden after 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Montevideo (11-12) at Stratford 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Corran Ard (IRE) 5-6fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, led approaching last, driven out, won at Southwell 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Dec '06 beating Pevensey (10-11) by a nk, 14 ran.
Or Bleu (FR) 9-4fav (10-9) Chased leader, led after 4th, ridden and headed 3 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Oh Crick (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
King's Head (IRE) 5-4 (10-10) Chased leader, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Classic Gold (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) gf in May.
