mid-division, headway after 5th, 4th and beaten when went lame, pulled up before 2 out
led until after 2nd, chased leader until 4th, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
in touch until 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
took keen hold in mid-division, behind when mistake 5th
held up, headway 3 out, left 2nd and hampered 2 out, no chance with winner
held up, steady headway 5th, weakened after 3 out
held up and behind, headway approaching 3 out, no impression on leaders
chased leaders, blundered 5th, soon struggling
always prominent, went 2nd 4th, led 6, in command when left well clear 2 out, eased flat
held up in touch, ridden when mistake 5th, weakened approaching next
soon tailed off, pulled up after 5th
mistake 3rd, not fluent 5th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
took keen hold in rear, mistake 2nd, headway approaching 3 out, one pace
took keen hold in mid-division, headway approaching 6, weakened approaching 2 out
with leader, led after 2nd, headed 6th, 4 lengths 2nd and beaten when fell 2 out
Martin Pipe's Wardash is likely to be plenty short enough and preference is for Charlie Chapel, who gets the vote over the penalised runners Storm Clear and Trickstep. The last mentioned opened his hurdling account when landing a Ludlow seller in May but has twice struggled since then, while Hereford winner Storm Clear is likely to struggle to concede weight away all round judged by his last three efforts. The ex-Irish and former pointer Kilrossanty made an encouraging rules debut behind Burning Truth at Hereford last time and has to be considered along with another former pointer Rosemount King. A bigger threat is likely to come from Wardash, although Martin Pipe's gelding took advantage of a lenient mark when landing a Huntingdon handicap off a mark of just 66 last month and has twice been well held since then. The vote then goes to Nigel Hawke's Charlie Chapel, who failed to stay 2m4f at Hereford last time and is well worth another chance in this grade back over today's trip.
Storm Clear (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden to chase winner approaching last, one pace flat, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Master Nimbus (9-8) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gf in Jun.
Trickstep 7-2 (11-1) Held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 9, 12l behind Blue Leader (11-8) at Hereford 2m 1f sll hdl (G) gf in Jun.
Behan 12-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden after 5th, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 45l behind My Sharp Grey (11-7) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (G) gf in Nov '03.
Charlie Chapel 7-2 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, faded after 2 out, 3rd of 7, 25l behind Morson Boy (10-12) at Hereford 2m 3f sll hdl (G) gf in May.
Kilrossanty (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up, taken wide and headway approaching 7th, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 17, 21l behind Burning Truth (10-12) at Hereford 2m 3f sll hdl (G) gf in May.
Raheel (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up in rear, mistake 3rd, some headway before 3 out, never able to challenge, 6th of 11, 21l behind Mr Fernet (11-0) at Plumpton 2m clm hdl (F) gd in May.
Wardash (GER) 7-2 (11-0) Towards rear, reminders after 2nd, some headway 5th, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Englishtown (11-9) at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gf in Jun.
Tshukudu 14-1 (9-2) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, eased 1f out, 11th of 16, 16l behind Eijaaz (9-12) at Leicester 1m 2f sll (6) gd in May (Flat).
