pulled early, held up towards rear, headway, shaken up after 3 out, ridden, ran on from 2 out, strong to lead flat, driven out
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, ridden after 5th, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
chased leader, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on from last
towards rear when fell 6th
held up towards rear, ridden, headway 3 out, switched right, effort last, kept on
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
led, pulled hard, headed after 3 out, ridden, led 2 out, headed flat, no extra
prominent, chased leader 6th, led, ridden after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, not quickened
Acambo and Barathea Blue are both interesting first time out over hurdles for Martin Pipe but Spanish Don is different class to these on the flat and is taken to make a winning start to his hurdling career. The winner of the 2004 Cambridgeshire, David Elsworth's gelding is a top-class recruit from the flat and, provided that he takes to hurdles, should be too classy for his rivals today. Huckster was nothing special on the flat in South Africa but may do better at this game with Venetia Williams, while Idris has the benefit of hurdling experience but looks nothing out of the ordinary. Iffy showed promise first time out and is another worthy of a mention along with another Martin Pipe runner Topkat, who was capable on the level. Fellow Pipe inmates Acambo and Barathea Blue would make more appeal judged by what they showed on the level but Spanish Don is the obvious choice and he gets the vote to translate his flat ability to the winter game.
Acambo (GER) (8-13) 2nd of 11, 1l behind Vive La Reine (8-3) at Baden-Baden 1m gd in Sep (Flat).
Barathea Blue 12-1 (9-12) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 4l behind War Owl (9-7) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Oct (Flat).
Butler Services (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) In touch, ridden 6f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 14, 7l behind Legal Glory (10-11) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn nhf (H) gd.
Dreams Jewel 100-1 (10-12) Towards rear, lost touch 4th, stayed on same pace from 3 out, hit 2 out, 7th of 17, 23l behind Sea The Light (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (D) gs.
Huckster (ZIM) (8-10) 7th of 12 behind Paris Prince (8-2) 1m1f hcp gd at Scottsville in May (Flat).
Idris (GER) 6-1 (11-0) Mistakes, held up in rear, mistakes 3rd and 6th, short lived effort under pressure after 2 out, soon beaten, 6th of 12, 19l behind Killaghy Castle (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) gs.
Iffy 22-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, soon ridden, kept on, 3rd of 14, 13l behind Two Miles West (11-0) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (C) sft in Oct.
Island Light (USA) 50-1 (11-2) Pulled hard, chased leaders, weakening when not much room 4th, tailed off, 11th of 16, well behind Miss Pebbles (10-9) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (E) gs.
Mick Jerome (IRE) (9-12) 3rd of 5, 2l behind Zenato (9-12) at Copenhagen 1m 6f Danish St Leger gd in Sept (Flat).
Salopian 14-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, weakened next, 11th of 15, well behind Underwriter (10-13) at Hereford 2m 3f mdn hdl (E) gd in Apr.
Spanish Don 25-1 (9-3) Raced far side, mid-division, ridden halfway, soon beaten, 18th of 30, 16l behind Blue Monday (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct (Flat).
Topkat (IRE) 7-2 (9-8) Held up, headway 3f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 4l behind Vaughan (9-13) at Newmarket 1m 4f clm (4) gs in Oct (Flat).
Anna Panna 12-1 (8-10) Slow into stride, steady headway into mid-division 5f out, ridden and no impression leaders final 2f, 8th of 11, 7l behind Munaawashat (8-11) at Windsor 1m fll hcp 0-85 (D) gs in Aug '04 (Flat).
Sunley Future (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Rapid headway to lead 2nd, pushed along 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 10, 7l behind Dolzago (11-3) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs.
