prominent, weakened approaching 6th
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, lost place after next, struggling after
mid-division, weakening under pressure when blundered 5th, tailed off
tracked leaders, led and hit 6th, edged right between last 2, ran on well flat
led approaching 1st, not fluent 3rd, hit 5th, headed next, weakening when hampered 3 out
mid-division, pulled hard, blundered 5th, soon behind
in rear, tailed off approaching 6th, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, blundered 4th, some headway when badly hampered 3 out, no impression
held up in rear, headway 6th, 5th and staying on when fell 3 out
held up towards rear, headway on inside after 4th, driven 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in rear, headway 5th, mistake 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression flat
last and pushed along, detached after 4th, headway approaching 3 out, never reached leaders, soon beaten
chased leaders, pushed along before 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
led briefly before 1st, prominent, mistake 6th, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 4th, every chance 3 out, 3rd and weakening before 2 out, blundered last
There are a few in with chances in this handicap hurdle including Maria Antonia, Aypeeyes and Miss Phoebe, and the vote is given to MARIA ANTONIA. The selection has been in decent form in the past month, making the frame twice and then winning at Newton Abbot last month. She is penalised for that success here but has conditions again to her liking and it is likely that Alison Thorpe can find a fair bit more improvement now, so we'll side with her. Aypeeyes was a wide margin winner at Newton Abbot last time when tried in maiden company and he is clearly on good terms with himself, though this is certainly tougher and he will need to be at his best to have a hope of following up. Miss Phoebe has gone up a stone for winning both over course and distance and at Stratford, one of which was under tonight's pilot Tony McCoy. There looked to be more to come on the evidence of her latest run and she is respected. Tribiani still looks to have a bit to find with Miss Phoebe from their Worcester running, while Shannersburg is only 1lb better off with the selection for their Newton Abbot race and that should not be enough to prevent Maria Antonia from winning again.
Orpen Wide (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Led to 3rd, mistake 4th, weakened approaching 5th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, dismounted, in a race won by Mutual Friend (11-9) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May, 10 ran.
Aypeeyes (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Prominent, tracked leader going well 5th, led approaching 2 out, shaken up and soon clear, pushed out flat, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf beating Hot Choc (11-0) by 24l, 10 ran.
Drawback (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, pushed along after 6th, weakened 2 out, mistake last, 6th of 8, 38l behind Shiwawa (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (4) gd.
Miss Phoebe (IRE) 6-5fav (10-2) In touch, jumped left 1st, led 5th, headed and jumped left 2 out, regained lead last, driven clear towards finish, won at Worcester 2m nov clm hdl (5) gf beating Tribiani (10-2) by 5l, 14 ran.
Calgary Jock 25-1 (11-3) Led to 3rd, weakened approaching 5th, pulled up before 6th, in a race won by Ameeq (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May, 13 ran.
Sir Haydn 14-1 (11-6) Took keen hold in mid-division, ran out and took wrong course after 4th, in a race won by Yossi (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Mar, 7 ran.
Ptibaby (FR) 12-1 (10-6) Towards rear, hampered after 3 out, never dangerous, 14th of 17, well behind Elaala (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf.
Tribiani (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, mistake 1st, headway 4th, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, headed last, soon hung left, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 14, 5l behind Miss Phoebe (10-2) at Worcester 2m nov clm hdl (5) gf.
Raise Again (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, steady headway after, ridden 2 out, kept on from last, eased near finish, 3rd of 11, 19l behind Wheelavit (10-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf.
Boogie Dancer 14-1 (10-1) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon behind, 12th of 17, 21l behind Elaala (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf.
Maria Antonia (IRE) 6-4fav (10-7) Held up behind, headway after 3 out, ridden in 3rd when not fluent 2 out, stayed on to lead soon after last, pushed out, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd beating Sweet World (10-7) by 2l, 11 ran.
Dancing Hill 20-1 (10-9) Always towards rear and outpaced, no chance from half way, 11th of 12, well behind Phone In (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
Golden Square 8-1 (10-6) Prominent, led 3rd, headed 3 out weakened last, 5th of 13, 19l behind Ameeq (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Pips Assertive Way 16-1 (10-4) With leader, outpaced and lost place 3 out, headway approaching last, no extra flat, 4th of 14, 8l behind Runaround Sue (10-6) at Hereford 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf.
Shannersburg (IRE) 17-2 (10-2) Chased leader, led after 3 out, soon kicked clear, tiring when mistake last, soon headed, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Maria Antonia (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
