held up towards rear, weakened from 10th, left 3rd from after 2 out, no impression
in rear, headway to go in touch 4 out, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, blundered 2 out
tracked leader, soon tracked leaders in 3rd, left 2nd 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, went 2nd at 6th, led approaching 10th, challenged and upsides when ran out 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, challenged and upsides when left clear 2 out, kept on well
led, headed approaching 10th, weakened next, pulled up before 5 out
Another Trump has hardly looked a natural over fences and a safer bet looks to be HELL'S BAY who is preferred to stablemate Apartman and the returning Openditch. Robert Thornton is booked for the ride on this son of Supreme Leader and this talented hurdler looks sure to prosper at some point over fences. He flopped on soft ground at Ludlow in November but his latest run at Worcester on good ground suggested that he is getting the hang of things and with the ground in his favour today we expect him to go very close. Apartman rates a danger given he was well-backed ahead of his chasing bow last time but he fell mid race. His confidence may now be an issue but he is unexposed and was a talented hurdler for George Charlton so he should not be ignored. Ballyvesey has the cheek-pieces back on as he goes chasing and he is bred to improve for the switch but his hurdling form leaves him with lots of improving to do, so a bigger threat could be Openditch. David Pipe's eight-year-old returns from a 464 day lay-off but should not be discounted on this chasing debut if the market vibes are positive. Fellow absentee Swing Bill is harder to recommend given his much longer absence, so with the other runners looks up against it we are happy to return to Hell's Bay as the selection.
Another Trump (NZ) 12-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, struggling 9th, behind from next, mistake 3 out, 6th of 7, well behind Edgeover (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 4f beg chase (4) gd in Jun.
Apartman (CZE) 5-4fav (11-0) Prominent, fell 8th, in a race won by Silver Story (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f beg chase (4) gd in Jun, 6 ran.
Ballyvesey (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Held up mid-division, pushed along approaching 8th, weakened next, 10th of 15, well behind Boyoboy (10-11) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Hell's Bay (FR) 5-1 (10-11) Mid-division, mistake 11th, headway next, hit 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 12, 20l behind Mont Present (11-0) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chase (4) gd in May.
Swing Bill (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, moderate headway approaching 2 out, 9th of 17, 25l behind Oslot (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr '07.
Tribunel 100-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, took keen hold, not fluent 5th and lost place, pulled up after next, in a race won by The Jigsaw Man (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf in Jun, 8 ran.
Openditch (FR) 3-1fav (11-6) Soon prominent, shaken up 9th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Tisfreetdream (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar '09.
