mid-division, headway to lead 3rd, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
keen, mid-division, mistake 5th, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
chased leaders until weakened after 5th, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway after 5th, ridden after 3 out, blundered badly 2 out, weakened
mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden and every chance after 3 out, one pace from next
chased leaders until 5th, soon behind
in touch, headway to join leaders 3 out, led after 2 out, ran on strongly, pushed out
chased leaders until 5th, soon behind, fell 2 out
mid-division until 5th, soon behind
always behind, tailed off when fell 2 out
mid-division until weakened quickly after 5th, pulled up before next
in touch, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway after 5th, close up when mistake 3 out, soon ridden, weakening when badly hampered 2 out
held up towards rear, headway after 5th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
always behind, tailed off when badly hampered 2 out
led until 3rd, chased leader, regained lead briefly approaching 3 out, soon ridden, one pace from 2 out
tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden and headed soon after 2 out, kept on, held by winner from last
Penn Da Benn must be of interest given his easy win on his racecourse debut but a long absence suggests at problems since and so likely to need the run, it is therefore Hell's Bay who gets the nod ahead of Helens Vision and Theatre Girl. The selection comes here on the back of a good third on his hurdling debut at Sandown when only narrowly beaten behind two very promising sorts and given that he was as green as grass on that occasion, he can only have come on leaps and bounds for the experience. This is a tough race with plenty of interesting sorts, however he could provide yet another winner for Paul Nicholls. Helens Vision and Theatre girl, a couple of fillys who receive weight from the field need utmost respect given their proven ability. The former romped home in a big field last time out so should be at home here once again, whilst Theatre Girl's beating of Procas De Thaix looks rock solid. Abstract Art needs consideration assuming that the fall hasn't dented his confidence, and whilst Penn Da Benn needs a check in the betting, it is Hells Bay who is taken to score.
Penn Da Benn (FR) (10-2) Held up, headway to track leaders before 2 out, led 150yds out, ran on strongly, won at Auteuil 2m 1f stk sft in Nov '06 beating Aflatoun (10-1) by 1 1/2l, 19 ran.
Abstract Art (USA) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leader, keen, led 1st, headed approaching 3rd, in 4th and held when fell 2 out in race won by Rightway Star (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Darksideofthemoon (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, stumbled 5th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Sovereign King (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
First Point (GER) (9-2) won at Dortmund 1m 1f stk gd in May beating Innpursuit (9-13) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran (Flat).
Hell's Bay (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, challenged and going well when hit 2 out, every chance last, stayed on under pressure towards finish, 3rd of 8, nk behind County Zen (11-8) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (3) hvy.
Just A Thought (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened 4f out, 15th of 24, 21l behind Cork All Star (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m nhf Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Khyber Kim 11-4fav (9-0) In touch, led main group over 4f out, headed over 1f out, weakened, 4th of 14, 8l behind Degas Art (8-6) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stk (1) sft in Sept '06 (Flat).
Levantine (IRE) 100-1 (10-8) Raced keenly, prominent, chased winner and blundered 3rd, held when hit last, weakened flat, 7th of 10, 13l behind Papillon de Iena (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Max Bygraves 66-1 (10-12) In touch, not fluent 3rd, weakened 2 out, 12th of 18, 25l behind Prince Taime (10-12) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Measured Response 22-1 (9-12) Always in rear, 12th of 16, 13l behind Zelos (10-5) at Nottingham 1m 2f ldy rds hcp (6) gf in Oct (Flat).
Minkowski (8-11) Held up in mid-division, headway 2f out on inside, no extra final furlong, 8th of 12, 11l behind Double Mix (8-9) at Chantilly 1m 4f in Oct (Flat).
Ogee 9-2 (9-4) Held up in touch, ridden and lost place well over 3f out, 5th of 8, 7l behind Dansant (8-3) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcap (2) gf in Sept (Flat).
Paktolos (FR) 11-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway after 5th, weakened quickly after 3 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Pauillac (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Dec '06, 15 ran.
Prince du Beury (FR) Epaphos gelding out of Hirondelle des Bois.
Selkirk Grace 9-4 (11-9) Tracked leaders, disputed 2nd from 3rd, hit 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Sir Haydn (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Twenti Twenti (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Swordsman (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gd in Nov, 14 ran.
Helens Vision 7-2 (10-4) Made all, soon clear, well ahead when shaken up soon after last, unchallenged, won at Newbury 2m nov hdl (3) gs beating Pasco (11-0) by 27l, 16 ran.
Theatre Girl 7-4fav (10-5) Towards rear, headway and hit 3 out, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, headed, hard ridden and rallied to lead again close home, won at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (3) gd in Nov beating Procas de Thaix (10-12) by a shd, 5 ran.
