held up, headway after 4th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led before last, driven out
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, weakened approaching last
reminders start, led 2nd, ridden, headed and weakened after 3 out, tailed off
towards rear, not fluent 6th, pushed along after 3 out, stayed on to take 3rd last, never nearer
chased leaders, every chance after 3 out, weakened after 2 out
not fluent, held up, mistake 5th, weakened 2 out
not fluent 1st, took keen hold in rear, mistake 3rd, headway when not fluent 6th, close up after 3 out, weakened before next
Michael Blake's PLAYERS PLEASE has won all three outings this term in claiming hurdles at Wetherby and Worcester prior to landing a novices' hurdle at Hereford on his most recent start and he has an obvious chance of completing the four-timer being dropped into a seller today, with the main threat rated as High Skies. Richard Newland's gelding disappointed over fences at Uttoxeter last month but has to be considered back over hurdles in this lowly grade. Jimmy Frost's Art Man has shown a consistent level of form but probably needs to improve to trouble the judge, while Santera looks the clear second best of Michael Blake's two runners. Zafar has run well in his last couple of outings, both in this grade, and he should be thereabouts again but it is hard to oppose Players Please.
Zafar (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Chased leaders, led 3 out, soon headed, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 20l behind Crathorne (10-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f sell hdl (5) gf in Jul.
Santera (IRE) 7-4fav (11-3) Tracked winner until ridden approaching last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Herschel (11-2) at Stratford 2m sll hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Baguenaud (FR) 50-1 (11-11) In rear, hit 5th, weakened 3 out, 14th of 15, 41l behind General Smith (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
High Skies 9-1 (11-5) Held up in 4th, left 3rd 6th, ridden after next, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Folie A Deux (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jul, 6 ran.
Bilbo Boggart (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, tracked leader until approaching 4th, mistake next, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching next, 6th of 7, 46l behind Holoko Heights (11-8) at Southwell 2m sell hdl (5) gd in Jul.
Contrada 50-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Clerk's Choice (10-4) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Bubses Boy 33-1 (10-2) Mid-division, lost place 7th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Along The Nile (11-1) at Southwell 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Peter Tchaikovsky 40-1 (9-10) Chased leaders, lost place over 4f out, eased over 2f out, last of 14, well behind Explorator (9-10) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Jul (flat).
Players Please (USA) 5-2 (11-12) Made all, ridden after 2 out, kept on well after last, ridden out, won at Hereford 2m 1f 4yo nov stks (4) gf in Jun beating Freedom Fire (10-8) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Art Man 4-1 (11-0) Held up behind, pushed along 5th, ridden 7th, headway approaching and hit 2 out, left 4th last, no impression, 4th of 8, 13l behind Call At Midnight (10-7) at Stratford 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jul.
