always prominent, second 3 out, led on bit 2 out, blundered last, ran on well
led to 3rd, ridden and lost 2nd when hit 3 out, soon weakened
with leader, led 3rd, ridden and headed 2 out, soon beaten
in touch, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, hit 3rd, headway after 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, never near leading pair
held up, reminder after 3 out, soon behind
held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, headway when not fluent 3 out, soon weakened
AACHEN faces a straightforward task and can complete his hat-trick; Neil Harvey and Kilvergan Boy can fill the places. The selection has looked an above average recruit to hurdling in scoring at Taunton and Market Rasen and should be hard to beat here. Negatives are his relatively quick reappearance and his first appearance on a testing track. Neil Harvey will have no problems with the track as he has won his bumper and debut over hurdles here. He has plenty of scope and should provide the selection with something to think about. Kilvergan Boy made a winning debut over course and distance in January and the yard's form has picked up after a lull. That was a decent enough performance without suggesting that he can trouble the best of these. The remainder look up against it in this company and Aachen should come out on top.
Aachen 1-6fav (11-8) Tracked leader, led 5th, drew clear from 2 out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (3) sft beating Super Directa (11-2) by 7l, 7 ran.
Kilvergan Boy (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, not fluent 3 out, soon led, ridden and headed narrowly approaching last, regained lead flat, driven out, gamely, won at Towcester 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Jan beating Postmaster (11-9) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Neil Harvey (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Always prominent, went 2nd after 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on well, won at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan beating Quentin Collonges (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
King Raven (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Held up, in touch, chased winner over 3f out, under pressure and hung right over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 2nd of 10, 14l behind Pliny (10-7) at Towcester 2m nhf (5) gs in Dec.
My Friend Sandy 66-1 (11-2) Chased leaders until lost place approaching 5th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on from next, 5th of 12, 9l behind Nictory Vote (11-0) at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Phoenix Ice (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 16, 36l behind Riverside Theatre (11-4) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Snurgecal (IRE) Fell 4 out in race won by Classic Frontier at Ballindenisk 3m ire ptp hvy in Dec '07, 17 ran.
Jolly Cooper 100-1 (10-6) Took keen hold in rear, headway after 4th, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 10, 31l behind Neil Harvey (11-4) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
