held up, headway to track leaders 7th, ridden 13th, weakened next
in rear, hamperd and unseated rider 3rd
tracking leaders, mistake 2nd, unseated rider 3rd
tracked leaders, led 6th, clear from 14th, kept on well
tracked leaders, jumped right 7th, weakened 11th, lost touch next
towards rear, headway 10th, weakened 4 out
tracked leaders and jumped right throughout, lost place 5th, headway to rejoin leaders 10th, weakened 3 out
held up, blundered 2nd, headway and hamperd 10th, close up 13th, ridden to chase winner from next, no impression
led, headed 6th, reminders 9th, weakened 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 13th
The race revolves about My Turn Now but Stagecoach Opal and Valiant Shadow may be the two to concentrate on here with the former's experience winning him the vote. Sue Smith's campaigner sets the standard having made the frame in five of his seven starts over fences but he may not be one to rely on. He was only narrowly beaten at Cartmel last time but that doesn't paint the whole picture as he raced with little zest for much of the race so there have to be concerns. My Turn Now developed into a very smart hurdler but he appears to have lost the plot completely and wasn't revitalised by the switch to chasing last time. He could outclass these rivals if performing anywhere near his best this afternoon but there must be major doubts about him doing so. Valiant Shadow was a useful hurdler, Richard Johnson rides plenty of winners for the in-form Thorpe yard and support for this one on his chase bow would have to be taken seriously given the real concerns about My Turn Now and the selection, Stagecoach Opal.
Bright Green 12-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway approaching 14th, every chance 3 out, stayed on approaching last, not quicken flat, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Dusty Dane (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gf in May.
Cengiz (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, jumped slowly 4th, tailed off from next, 6th of 9, well behind Strong Weld (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in May.
Mr Parson (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) Rdn & eff 12; blun 15; wknd & blun 2 out, 5th of 10, 30l behind Rusty Zaffaran (12-0) at Maisemore Park 3m ptp sft in Apr.
My Turn Now (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) With leader, ridden and mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 13l behind Oscar Bay (11-0) at Haydock 2m 4f beg chs (2) gd in May.
Orion Star (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Prominent, blundered 2nd, mistake 4th, ridden when fell 5 out in race won by Dusty Dane (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gf in May, 11 ran.
Overton Lad 25-1 (10-11) Jumped right 3rd, soon chasing leader, reminders after 9th, mistake 11th, close up when unseated rider at the 13th in race won by Dusty Dane (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gf in May, 11 ran.
Stagecoach Opal 7-4fav (11-0) Chased leaders, reminders and lost place after 4th, headway last, every chance well inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 7, hd behind Hello It's Me (11-0) at Cartmel 2m 5f beg chs (4) gd in May.
Valiant Shadow (GER) 8-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway after 5th, upsides when blundered badly 8th, weakened approaching last, 11th of 15, 32l behind Schindlers Son (10-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in May.
Is She Convinced (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Mid-division early, dropped to rear and trailing from before 4th, soon no danger and pulled up 3 out in race won by Spaxdotcom (11-0) at Sligo 2m 4f cnd hdl sft in Aug, 12 ran.
See The View (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) In touch, hampered 2nd, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 12, 46l behind The Bonus King (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) gf in Sept '06.
