held in left, progress from 9th, going well and switched left before 2 out, challenged between last 2, ridden to lead flat, edged slightly right, kept on
held up, jumped right 4th, not fluent 6th, headway approaching 8th, driven and struggling 10th, tailed off when jumped right 2 out
jumped left on occasions, made most to 9th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, headway 8th, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden when not fluent last, headed flat, held near finish
chased leading pair, led approaching 9th, not fluent 10th, headed, jumped right 2 out, soon no chance with front pair
pressed leader until approaching 9th, soon struggling
Black Jack Ketchum gets the vote here ahead of Lough Derg, My Turn Now and Faasel. A chance for Black Jack Ketchum to redeem his reputation. He went into last season as one of the most exciting of staying prospects but something went wrong along the way. A breathing operation may well have corrected whatever ailed him and we will support him in his bid to restore his reputation. If he runs ot the level of his Long Walk Hurdle form of last December, Lough Derg could be fancied, while the 2006 Triumph Hurdle runner-up, Faasel, is capable of useful hurdling form and My Turn Now, who has won six of his eight hurdle races, can also go well but the selection is Black Jack Ketchum.
Black Jack Ketchum (IRE) 7-4fav (11-10) Held up, headway 8th, chased winner next, challenged 3 out, ridden and beaten 2 out, 2nd of 6, 13l behind Mighty Man (11-10) at Aintree 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Crocodile Dundee (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Held up, outpaced 9th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on from last, 4th of 9, 5l behind That's Rhythm (11-3) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
My Turn Now (IRE) 4-7fav (11-8) With leader, led 3 out, clear when jumped left next, stayed on strongly, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gd in Apr beating Rustarix (11-8) by 9l, 9 ran.
Faasel (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (11-3) Outpaced towards rear, reminders after 4th, stayed on to go 3rd from 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 6, 16l behind Yes Sir (11-10) at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gf in Apr.
Lough Derg (FR) 11-1 (11-0) Led, ridden after 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 19, 16l behind Abragante (11-0) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
St Matthew (USA) 40-1 (10-12) Chased leader until lost place 4 out, 14th of 19, 35l behind Abragante (11-0) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
