led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed soon after, weakening and held in 3rd when blundered last
held up in rear, effort and no headway from 3 out
held up mid-division, headway 4th, led after 2 out, narrow lead and not fluent last, held on towards finish, driven out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway on inside 4 out, went 2nd approaching 3 out, every chance when not fluent last, kept on, held towards finish
held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, ridden approaching last, one pace
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leader, jumped left 1st, weakened after 4 out
held up towards rear, headway 5th, pushed along before 4 out, ridden and weakened after
Peter Bowen's RIO GAEL made all the running when successful at Haydock last week and he can defy the 9lb rise for that win and follow up here with the main danger rated as Viva Colonia. David O'Meara's gelding was also successful last time when scoring here over 2m4f but a combination of the drop in trip and an 11lb rise may prevent him from following up that success. Micky Hammond's Amir Pasha has been running consistently well but has paid the penalty at the hands of the handicapper and of more interest may be Fred Bojangals, who made an encouraging return to hurdles on his reappearance at Sedgefield in September. Howard Johnson's Nine Stories is another to consider but it is Rio Gael that gets the verdict.
Rio Gael (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Made all, ridden after 3 out, joined 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd beating Gifted Leader (11-9) by 4l, 10 ran.
European Dream (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Dee Ee Williams (11-12) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr, 21 ran.
Nine Stories (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, chased leaders when blundered 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Hazeldene (10-1) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Fred Bojangals (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 4th and keen, chased winner from 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 8, 11l behind Ashammar (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Burnt Oak (UAE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden next, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd flat, no impression, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Well Disguised (9-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar '09.
Viva Colonia (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, led last, quickened clear, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct beating First Stream (11-12) by 4l, 15 ran.
Amir Pasha (UAE) 11-2 (10-1) Held up mid-division, headway after 4 out, hit 2 out, soon tracking winner, challenging when not fluent last, not quicken run-in, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Royal Max (10-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Melange (USA) 7-1 (11-0) In touch, reminder 3rd, outpaced 3 out, effort under pressure next, stayed on same pace, no impression, 6th of 9, 20l behind Lightening Rod (11-9) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Motafarred (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Mid-division, mistake 5th, jumped left 6th, soon ridden, headway approaching 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 18, 35l behind Andhaar (11-0) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Nomadic Warrior 6-1 (10-10) Clipped heels and slipped up soon after start, in a race won by Spare Me (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May, 10 ran.
