led, headed 2nd, led again before 3rd, hit 4th, hit 3 out, soon went clear going well, easily
always well behind, tailed off when mistake 3rd, pulled up before 6th
jumped right, took keen hold in mid-division, mistake 4th, headway when hit 6th, went 4th after 3 out, no chance
chased leaders, ridden and weakening when mistake 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
pulled hard, in touch, went 3rd 3 out, but no impression
led 2nd, headed before 3rd, weakened rapidly approaching 5th, pulled up after 5th
mistake 2nd, always behind tailed off
prominent, chased winner from 3rd, hit 4th, stayed on one pace, no chance with winner after 3 out, not fluent 2 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, 3rd when mistake 6th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, mistake 2nd and 4th, ridden and struggling from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 6th
mid-division, struggling from 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always well behind, tailed off when mistake 3rd, pulled up before 6th
Is It Me is taken to get the better of Alraune and Tora Petcha in an interesting novice hurdle. Tora Petcha followed home Is It Me at a respectful distance on his hurdling bow but shaped much better at Bangor last time, run out of it on the flat, filling the runner up spot once more. He was good enough to win a York maiden on the Flat although his form deteriorated after that, and he can reach a place here. Is It Me has run up a sequence of four hurdling successes as he has really taken to the jumping game and his wins have all been emphatic. A winner on his last outing on the Flat in a Catterick handicap he will be hard to beat even carrying a penalty. Christian von der Ecke is always to be respected in this sphere and his Alraune comes here on the bck of a win in Germany. It was not a decisive win in a modest contest so he is taken on. Is It Me can continue his winning run.
Is It Me (USA) 2-5fav (12-5) Made all, jumped left, hit 4th, clear from 3 out, eased heavily flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Aug beating The Preacher (10-5) by a distance, 8 ran.
Caribbean Nights (IRE) 20-1 (8-5) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 8, 22l behind Conrad (9-2) at Pontefract 6f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Aug (Flat).
Crocodile Bay (IRE) 50-1 (9-6) Led until over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 11, 15l behind Ans Bach (9-7) at Sandown 7f 3yo hcp (3) gf in Jul (Flat).
Indian Wizard (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Took keen hold, held up, mistakes 2nd and 4th, struggling from next, tailed off, 3rd of 7, well behind Is It Me (10-12) at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Jul.
Peephole 33-1 (8-7) Chased leaders until lost place over 2f out, 10th of 11, 17l behind Dream of Paradise (8-1) at Chester 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Aug (Flat).
Tora Petcha (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up, headway approaching 5th, mistake 2 out, soon chasing winner, no impression flat, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Gentian (10-2) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Aug.
Vienna Prince (USA) (9-2) 10th of 15, 26l behind Dilek (9-2) at Maisons-Laffitte 1m 2f 3yo stk in May (Flat).
Alraune (GER) (8-7) 6th of 8, 27l behind Prince Flori (8-11) at Frankfurt 1m 2f stk gd in Apr (Flat).
