towards rear, blundered 5th, soon in rear and reminders, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 5 out
chased leaders, with leaders 7th, ridden before 3 out, weakened before last
held up in rear and keen, headway before 3 out, soon went 4th, weakened before last
held up in touch, weakened from 5 out
held up mid-division, pushed along 6th and reminders, weakened before 3 out
with leaders, led after 4 out, clear before last, eased and idled towards finish
held up towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened
led and keen, headed after 4 out, blundered 3 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway after 4 out, went 2nd before 3 out, kept on and held run-in
This may be a little more competitive than the first division with several powerful NH yards represented. Rally was sent off favourite on his hurdling debut at Uttoxeter but was made to look very one-paced. He doesn't look likely to develop into one of his stable's top novices this year and more interesting is MASTER RAJEEM. The latter defied a penalty to win a Carlisle bumper on his final start last season and that's usually an encouraging sign. He's preferred to Famousandfearless, well beaten in a bumper here on his first start under Rules, and newcomer Vivaldi Collonges. The latter's breeding looks nothing special. Fairwood Massini won once over hurdles and three times over fences during the summer but could be exposed now that the better novices are coming out. Lakefield Rebel may do better over fences.
Alaplee 200-1 (10-12) In rear, some headway before 3 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 5th of 13, 23l behind Three Kingdoms (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Fairwood Massini (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Held up, not fluent 1st or 3rd, headway 7th, beaten when hampered and left 3rd 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 9, 27l behind Sergeant Pink (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Sep.
Famousandfearless (IRE) 10-11fav (11-4) Prominent, led after 4f, headed over 3f out, weakened quickly over 2f out, eased, 12th of 14, 41l behind Couldhavehaditall (11-4) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Lakefield Rebel (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 5th, slow next, lost place 3 out, rallied after last, stayed on to go modest 3rd after last, 3rd of 7, 22l behind Drop Out Joe (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Lord Brendy 16-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, struggling before 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 10, 29l behind Plan Again (11-0) at Kelso 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Master Rajeem (USA) 6-4fav (11-4) Held up in touch, went 3rd before halfway, led over 1f out, kept on well towards finish, won at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Apr beating Uisge Beatha (10-10) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Rally 15-8fav (10-11) In touch, dropped to mid-division 6th, outpaced before 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, never troubled leaders, 5th of 15, 17l behind Carlton Jack (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f 4yo mdn stks (5) gd in Oct.
Rene Le Roi (FR) 28-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, never on terms, well beaten after 3 out, 5th of 9, 25l behind Bowie (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Unknown Legend (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Led, headed over 4f out, soon ridden and weakened, behind entering straight, pulled up over 1f out, in a race won by Unic De Bersy (12-0) at Tipperary 2m 2f N H flat hvy in May, 12 ran.
Vivaldi Collonges (FR) Dom Alco gelding out of Diane Collonges.
