held up in touch, mistake and reminder 7th, not much room and challenged from 3 out, went left 2 out, still every chance last, stayed on
led until 3rd, prominent, reminders after 7th, switched right approaching last, stayed on same pace
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out
in touch, took keen hold, no impression approaching last
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out
prominent, took keen hold, led approaching 3 out, soon headed and not much room, weakened well before 2 out, tailed off
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, ridden 5th, weakened 7th, pulled up before next
prominent, took keen hold, led 3rd, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division, jumped left 4th, headway after 8th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
took keen hold, always towards rear, tailed off
held up towards rear, mistake 5th, headway after 7th, hard ridden and wanting to hang left from after 2 out, led and not fluent last, driven out
mid-division, behind from 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
took keen hold, mistake 1st, headway when crashed through wing and ran out 3rd
prominent, took keen hold, not fluent 7th, led approaching 3 out, went left 2 out, soon edged left, headed last, no extra flat
in rear, mistake 5th, ridden after next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Irish point-to-point winner Rif struggled in three starts over hurdles last term but they were all on a testing surface and he may do better on the ground today but a safer option looks to be TULLYRAINE, who gets the verdict ahead of Any Currency. Martin Keighley's gelding reverts to hurdles after a spell chasing and would have every chance if able to reproduce recent form over the larger obstacles. With Charlie Longsdon's runners going well at present, Yabora has to be considered, while Alan King's Jetnova should come on for the experience of his rules debut at Newton Abbot back in May. The vote though goes the way of Tullyraine, who sprung a surprise when making a winning debut over hurdles at Worcester earlier this month and he can give Nigel Twiston-Davies another winner.
Tullyraine (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Prominent, led approaching 9th, clear when blundered 2 out, soon hung left, hung left flat, stayed on well, won at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Qroktou (10-12) by 8l, 16 ran.
Any Currency (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) In touch on outside, effort 3 out, 6th and driven when mistake next, soon ridden, stayed on flat, 4th of 18, 5l behind Poker De Sivola (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m am nov chs (2) gd in Mar.
Dareios (GER) 100-1 (10-12) Chased leader, ran green towards 1st, not fluent 2nd, ridden and weakend 6th, 11th of 14, well behind Tyrrells Wood (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gf in Sep '08.
Definite Dawn (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 9f out, edged right over 2f out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 18l behind Barthelemy (11-3) at Ludlow 2m NH flat (5) gf in Apr.
El Diego (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Raced in mid-division on inside, weakened and mistake 6th, soon behind, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Moonwolf (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Fairwood Dante (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led after 3f, headed over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 10, 15l behind Eastlake (11-4) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gs.
Fen Farm 150-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, tailed off from 4 out, 13th of 15, well behind Iceman George (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Hardwick Wood 7-4 (11-7) 3rd of 13, 16l behind The Nuns Legacy (12-0) at Garthorpe 3m ptp gf in Apr.
Jetnova (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division on inside, headway 6th, ridden after 3 out, challenged next, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 12, 11l behind Oedipe (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Kingman Reef (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) 4th of 11, 18l behind Snake Rave (12-0) at Garthorpe 3m ptp gf in Apr '09.
Rif (FR) 9-2 (11-4) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway when hit 7th, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind Predictive (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
The Ridge 125-1 (11-0) Chased leader until over 5f out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Bear's Affair (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gd.
Trempari 33-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, hit 1st, reminders after 6th, weakened 8th, 8th of 13, 34l behind Nulato (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Yabora (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, led approaching 10th, ridden and joined 2 out, soon headed, weakened last, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Storymaker (10-10) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Apr.
Hamalac 40-1 (10-12) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, jumpd slowly 5th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 11th of 14, well behind Cinderella Rose (10-2) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (3) gd.
Harry Oscar (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, stumbled 6th, weakened 8th, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Tullyraine (10-12) at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gs, 16 ran.
