led, soon clear, ridden after 3 out, headed and beaten 2 out, lost 2nd last strides
chased clear leader, mistake 5th, lost 2nd next, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 5th, well behind when mistake 3 out, tailed off
towards rear, ridden before 6th, modest 5th 3 out, no impression, went 4th latter stages
chased leaders, went 2nd 6th, led 2 out, soon clear
chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, ridden and hung left approaching 5th, weakened before next, mistake 3 out
not fluent in last, fell 4th
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway 6th, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd last strides, no chance with winner
The 127-rated HIBIKI may not be a 'good thing' but he should be good enough to see off this bunch of rivals. Phillip Hobbs' gelding is bred to win a Derby so it's a shame he's now plying his trade at this level but his mark is just a tad too high at present meaning handicaps are probably unrealistic. He was well-held on his chasing debut at Fontwell in June and is of more interest now returned to hurdles with conditions to suit. War Party also reverts to hurdles and he rates better than a Wetherby flop would suggest; regular pilot Tom Weston is back in the saddle and the market may help guide to his chance. Musashi won a selling contest in September but this looks stronger, so a bigger threat might be Tri Nations who is a regular in this grade and doesn't know how to run a bad race. Tayarat drops down from novice grade but probably has a tough task under his penalties, whilst The Lemonpie may improve now fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time.
Tayarat (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Led to 3rd, weakened quickly approaching 5th, tailed off, 13th of 16, well behind Rebel Du Maquis (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct '09.
Feeling (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway approaching 5th, went 3rd when not fluent 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Olivino (10-13) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
Musashi (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Held up behind, headway 3 out, led next, 6 lengths clear last, drew well clear flat, easily, won at Plumpton 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Sep beating We're Delighted (11-3) by 21l, 11 ran.
War Party 6-1 (9-7) Always behind, weakened after 5 out, hampered 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Drever Route (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd, 9 ran.
Hibiki (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, hit 3rd, mistake 4th, reminders and lost place after 7th, hit 9th, well held in 4th when blundered last, 5th of 7, 18l behind Nintytwo Team (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chase (4) gd in Jun.
Ladies Best 25-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 32l behind Northern Lad (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Optimaxer (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway 12f out, not much room on inside and lost place 9f out, weakened over 5f out, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Fountains Flypast (10-9) at Stratford 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Lindsay's Dream 11-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, lost place after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 11, 32l behind Dark Ranger (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Tri Nations (UAE) 2-1fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway to go 3rd 5th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, hit last, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m cnd/am sll hdl (5) gd in Sep beating Sadler's Star (11-6) by nk, 7 ran.
The Lemonpie (GER) 33-1 (10-0) In rear, struggling 6th, never dangerous, 9th of 10, 30l behind Herschel (11-0) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Sep.
