tracked leader until after 3 out, ridden after next, kept on flat
held up mid-division, headway after 3 out, chased winner 2 out, soon ridden, kept on flat, always held
held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
led, mistake 4th, headed after 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, not fluent and pushed along 4th, in rear when mistake and unseated rider 5th
tracked leaders, hit 4 out, ridden and weakened after 3 out
held up mid-division, headway after 3rd to chase leaders, weakened after 3 out, tailed off from next
held up in rear, mistake 1st, headway 3 out, soon not much room on inside, ridden after 2 out, kept on flat
held up mid-division and keen, headway approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, kept on well, eased towards finish
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders on outside approachiong 3rd, pushed along and lost place from 4 out, tailed off approaching 2 out
Nigel Twiston-Davies complicates matters by saddling two runners here in Educated Evans and Le Roi Max but both will need to improve dramatically on bumper form to trouble the judge and a safer option looks to be MONTOYA'S SON, who gets the vote. Howard Johnson's gelding showed improved form when landing a novices' hurdle at Hexham when last seen in May and he can defy the penalty for that effort and win again. The Cockney Squire won well at Limerick last time but may be best watched on his first start for Lucinda Russell, while Robert Hennessy's Time Machine tends to find at least one too good. Jim Goldie's Jewelled Dagger is likely to find this tougher than the maiden hurdle that he won over course and distance last month and of more interest may be Gordon Elliott's lightly raced Makhaaleb, who looks to be going the right way over timber.
Jewelled Dagger (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Made all, ridden 2 out, pressed when hit last, driven and stayed on gamely, won at Perth 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Aug beating Duty Free (10-9) by 1l, 9 ran.
Makhaaleb (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, 7th 4 out, 5th and headway before 2 out, led approaching last, strongly pressed run-in, kept on well, all out, won at Down Royal 2m 4yo mdn hdl gf in Aug beating High Magic (11-2) by hd, 12 ran.
Montoya's Son (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) In touch, driven to chase leading pair last, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure flat to lead final strides, won at Hexham 2m nov hdl (4) gs in May beating Twentynineblack (10-9) by hd, 12 ran.
The Cockney Squire (IRE) 11-10fav (11-12) Made all, edged clear 2 out, ran on well from last, very easily, won at Limerick 2m mdn hdl sft in Apr beating King Eloi (11-12) by 13l, 15 ran.
Educated Evans (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Raced keenly, led, hung left and headed over 2f out, soon no chance with winner, lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 9, 22l behind High Benefit (10-9) at Haydock 2m nhf (6) sft in Mar.
Le Roi Max (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 5f out, pushed along over 4f out, soon outpaced, 9th of 16, 20l behind Mr Hudson (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in May.
Lochore (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, 7th of 14, 31l behind Soft Spoken Guy (11-5) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Ross Limestone (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Mid-division, 9th halfway, 6th and effort approaching 3 out, no extra from next, 8th of 18, 22l behind Macville (10-13) at Killarney 2m 1f mdn hdl gf in Aug.
Time Machine (UAE) 12-1 (11-7) Mid-division, 8th 5 out, 6th and progress next, 4th before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 16, 7l behind Rockazar (11-2) at Bellewstown 2m 1f hcp hdl 80-102 gd in Aug.
Shuttle Diplomacy (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Mid-division, took keen hold, ridden after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Calon Crwbin (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
