raced keenly, made all, not fluent 3rd, pressed when bumped last, drew clear flat, stayed on
held up in rear, took keen hold, closed after 3 out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders on outside, not fluent 4th, weakened before last
held up in 4th, jumped left and last 5th, closed before 2 out, went 3rd before jumping left and not fluent last, no impression on winner, kept on
chased winner, not fluent 6th, switched left after 2 out, soon hanging left, switched right and pressing winner when hampered last, no impression after
NonRunner
BATHIVA is by far the most experienced contender on show and also has assured fitness on his side. Admittedly, this is the first time he's tackled hurdles since joining Fergal O'Brien back in October 2020, but he's a sharp enough sort over 2m over fences and could prove too battle-hardened for lightly-raced if promising opposition. Trolley Boy is an interesting hurdling recruit, having last been seen over 200 days ago landing a Newcastle bumper and could prove the main threat along with Lusaka who shaped well on hurdling debut at Perth last month and has some respectable maiden form on the Flat in Ireland. Konfusion showed ability when third on debut in a Market Rasen bumper and the two making debuts under NH Rules were both good enough to land a victory on the level.
Bathiva (FR) 5-2fav (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway 7th, every chance 2 out, 3rd and no extra flat, 3rd of 7, 5 1/2l behind Texard (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Buford 20-1 (10-9) Always well behind, last of 11, 28 3/4l behind Saulire Star (10-5) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp (6) gd in Jun.
Keeper 22-1 (9-9) Led group of three near side, 2nd overall until led narrowly halfway, soon headed, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out, soon behind, 6th of 8, 15 1/4l behind Otto Oyl (9-10) at Yarmouth 1m hcp (6) sft in Jun.
Konfusion 8-1 (10-11) In touch in mid-division, outpaced over 3f out, rallied into 3rd over 1f, stayed on, no impression, 3rd of 8, 7 3/4l behind Ilanz (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (5) gd in Jun.
Lusaka (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, headway on outside before 2 out, no impression before last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 10, 6 1/2l behind Copperwell (11-4) at Perth 2m mdn (4) gd in Jun.
Trolley Boy 6-5fav (10-12) Led at slow pace, increased tempo over 3f out, pushed along and hung left over 2f out, went right over 1f out, challenged inside final furlong, just held on, won at Newcastle 1m 6f (5) gd in Dec beating Iceman Dennis (10-12) by shd, 11 ran.
