chased leaders, lost place 3rd, closed from 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, no impression on winner, kept on
chased leaders, lost place 2nd, not fluent 5th, mistake 2 out, stayed on from last bend, went 3rd soon after last, no impression
made all, not always fluent, clear from 5th, ridden out flat
chased leaders, not jump well, ridden after 3 out, weakened before last, soon lost 3rd
towards rear, well beaten from 3 out, tailed off
always well behind, tailed off from 4th
held up in mid-division, well beaten from 5th, tailed off
held up in mid-division, some headway after 3 out, no chance, tailed off
pressed winner, not fluent 3rd, losing ground on rival before 5th, weakened after 2 out, tailed off
mid-division, slow 1st, not jump well in rear after, tailed off 4th
always well behind, tailed off 4th
Hatcher won two bumpers but has struggled to get his head in front over hurdles, though has finished second three times and sets the standard here off a mark of 117. That is 6lb higher than Bangor third D'waterside, who is also looking a little exposed. Fleeting Visit was behind the latter on his hurdling debut and still beaten almost 20 lengths when third at Worcester subsequently. There are doubts concerning quick ground with Henry Smith but the first and third have both franked the form of his Bangor second. CARNTOP, rated 100 on the Flat, was pitched in at the deep end on his hurdles bow. He had little chance in Grade 2 company but should find this opposition much more to his liking.
Carntop 40-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Global Citizen (11-2) at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Feb.
Fleeting Visit 9-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 2 out, chased leaders last, never a threat, 3rd of 10, 19 1/2l behind Vivant (10-7) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Jun.
Hatcher (IRE) 15-8fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 4th, 3rd next but leader well clear, closed to take 2nd after 2 out, ridden when went left and not fluent last, out-battled flat, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Yensir (11-4) at Stratford 2m (4) gf in Jun.
Henry Smith 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, driven to chase front pair after 3 out, ridden between last 2, stayed on to take narrow 2nd final strides, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 10l behind Fair Mountain (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Jun.
Jazri 50-1 (8-7) Slowly away, behind, headway on outside 6f out, 2nd over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 20 1/4l behind Kilbaha Lady (9-10) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (6) fm in Jun.
Sehayli (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Always well behind, tailed off, 7th of 12, dist behind Yensir (11-4) at Stratford 2m (4) gf in Jun.
The Last Melon 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, behind from 5th, tailed off, 5th of 12, dist behind Yensir (11-4) at Stratford 2m (4) gf in Jun.
Tripartite (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, well held next, 7th of 9, 33 3/4l behind Humphrey Bogart (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (5) gd in May.
D'waterside 66-1 (10-12) Led, headed after 3rd, 3rd and held last, kept on, 3rd of 14, 3 3/4l behind Fort Jefferson (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (5) gd in May.
Equus Pandora (IRE) 3-1 (10-9) In rear when jumped right and unseated rider 2nd, at Worcester 2m (4) gd in Jun.
Shadow's Girl 50-1 (10-12) Behind, not fluent 6th, some headway 2 out, no chance, tailed off, 6th of 10, dist behind Sue Be It (11-4) at Stratford 2m 3f (4) gf in Jun.
