held up, headway 4 out, led 3 out, kept on well flat
held up, ridden 4 out, never troubled leaders
mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, driven and weakened from next
mid-division, effort 3 out, one pace from next
held up, headway 4f out, stayed on from 2 out
tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, stayed on from 2 out
chased leaders, ridden and weakened from 2 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, driven and no extra from 2 out
soon led, mistake 6th, soon headed, driven and weakened from 3 out
in touch, outpaced 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, not reached winner
held up, headway 3 out, stayed on one pace from 2 out
tracked leader, led 7th, ridden and headed 3 out, driven and weakened from next
held up and keen, headway 3 out, one pace from next
held up, mistake 6th, headway 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer
prominent, driven and weakened 4 out
Warsaw Pact looks to be going the right way over hurdles judged by his recent success at Chepstow but a 6lb rise for that narrow victory seems harsh and the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding looks best watched in a race that is taken to go to FRESH AIR AND FUN, who gets the verdict over Breaking Storm. The last mentioned has been in good form of late but he does have a career high mark to overcome so may be best watched. Storymaker has shown improved form in his last two starts but is another that has had little respite from the handicapper. Smugglers Bay ran encouragingly when last seen over hurdles but Tim Easterby's gelding was disappointing on the flat recently and would need to have come on for that outing to get involved here. Like a lot of David Pipe's runners, Lemon Silk ran below expectations when last seen and he looks best watched with preference for Fresh Air And Fun. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding was good value for his win in a maiden hurdle at Stratford last time and he looks well treated for his first start in a handicap.
Warsaw Pact (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Held up, headway on outside 7th, kept on under pressure to lead approaching last, won at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct beating Buck The Legend (10-8) by a nk, 14 ran.
Lemon Silk (IRE) 33-1 (10-1) Always in the rear, 9th of 12, 37l behind Crack Away Jack (11-7) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Soubriquet (IRE) 22-1 (10-8) Chased winner until approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next, 10th of 14, 32l behind French Opera (11-8) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Oct.
Breaking Storm (IRE) 9-4fav (11-3) Held up, driven and outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure approaching last, not reached leaders, 4th of 12, 10l behind Mister Wiseman (10-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Sept.
Storymaker 3-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden last, headed flat, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Mirage Dore (11-9) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in May.
Star Beat 16-1 (11-2) Prominent to halfway, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by De Blanc (11-3) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Apr, 15 ran.
Smugglers Bay (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Held up, chasing leaders after 8th, slightly outpaced before 3 out, edged left approaching 2 out, mistake last, one pace flat, 4th of 8, 4l behind Stainley (10-8) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Mar.
Fresh Air And Fun (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 8th, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, won at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (3) sft in Sept beating Answer Me (11-0) by 10l, 14 ran.
Backbeat (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Towards rear when fell at the 2nd in race won by Comply Or Die (10-9) at Aintree 4m 4f Grand National (1) gd in Apr, 40 ran.
Terenzium (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up, headway after 4 out, chased winner approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Mhilu (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (4) frm in Oct.
Ormus 10-1 (11-0) Towards rear, headway and prominent 4 out, effort 2 out, weakened, 4th of 11, 27l behind Black Mogul (10-7) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Oct.
Still At Lunch (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Led, headed approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 7, 15l behind Coolnaharan (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) frm in Oct.
Remainder 11-2 (10-8) Led, hit 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 15, 40l behind Raysrock (10-10) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Apr.
Wee Bertie (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Held up behind, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 37l behind Breaking Storm (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Sept.
Harcas (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) With leader, led after 4 out, not fluent next, weakening when mistake 2 out, 4th of 7, 14l behind Coolnaharan (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) frm in Oct.
