mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, ridden and one pace from 2 out
tracked leaders, hit 4th, headway to lead approaching 3 out, soon headed, ridden and kept on well from 2 out, just held
chased leader, mistake 3rd, blundered 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out
led, headed approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, soon ridden, kept on, no impression on 1st 2
always behind
chased leaders to 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
held up, heeadway 4 out, ridden and one pace from next
tacked leaders, mistake 4th, headway to lead 3 out, quickened clear next, ridden approaching last, held on close home
mid-division, outpaced 5th, ridden and headway 3 out, kept on no impression
An interesting contest where it's a case of notebooks at the ready, but we will go with Two Miles West to lead them home, with Troll and Circassian likely to be involved. Two Miles West is very interesting on his hurdling debut. He was rated best of these on the level, and was good enough to run in the Irish St Leger when with Aidan O'Brien, on his last start over a year ago. His yard are going well, though some have needed their first run, but if he is over any problems he will act on the ground and he should be too classy for this lot. Circassian has switched to Howard Johnson from Sir Mark Prescott, and that route has proved a successful one for a few other horses. He is a two mile winner on the level, so will need every yard of this, and he has acted with some cut in the ground, albeit not as soft as this before. Of those with more of a jumping pedigree, Troll looks the pick. Len Lungo's gelding won a bumper here with cut in the ground last year, and he too makes his hurdling debut, so we expect a good showing, but if Two Miles West can reproduce anything like his flat form over hurdles then he can take this prize on the way to better things.
Backgammon 25-1 (10-12) Behind, kept on from 2 out, never dangerous, 7th of 19, 42l behind Spring Breeze (10-12) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (D) gd.
Circassian (IRE) 11-8fav (10-0) Made all, ridden clear 2f out, easily, won at Beverley 2m hcp (4) gd in Aug beating Night Sight (8-10) by 6l, 6 ran (Flat).
Dextrous 20-1 (10-9) In rear, headway 5th, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 19l behind Teme Valley (10-8) at Sedgefield 2m 1f clm hdl (F) gf in Sept.
Duke Orsino (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, stayed on after 2 out, 3rd of 12, 10l behind Bannister Lane (11-0) at Hexham 2m nh nov hdl (E) gd in May.
Europrime Games 200-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 16, 25l behind Nicolas Mon Ami (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f mdn hdl (E) gd.
Iffy 25-1 (10-11) Held up, never near leaders, 9th of 16, well behind Darrias (11-5) at Stratford 2m nov hdl (C) gd in Jun.
Nabir (FR) 14-1 (10-7) Always behind, 16th of 17, well behind Damarisco (10-11) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Apr.
Noble Pursuit 14-1 (10-5) In touch, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 17, 28l behind Sheer Guts (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gd.
Novack du Beury (FR) Epaphos gelding, half-brother to winners on the flat and over jumps.
Troll (FR) 5-2 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 5f out, effort of 2f out, one pace under pressure, 4th of 18, 4l behind The Duke's Speech (11-0) at Newcastle 1m 6f nhf (H) gd in Dec.
Two Miles West (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Rear of mid-division, 8th halfway, 7th approaching straight, kept on same pace, 6th of 13, 6l behind Vinnie Roe (9-8) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 gd in Sept '04 (Flat).
Water Taxi 25-1 (10-8) Held up, headway to chase leader 2 out, soon ridden and outpaced, 5th of 13, 21l behind Darasim (10-11) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf.
High Day 9-4fav (11-2) Soon led until 5 out fell at the 5th in race won by Sheer Tenby (11-12) at Cork 2m mdn hdl frm in Aug '04, 14 ran.
