mid-division, not fluent 3rd, weakened before 3 out
held up, always towards rear, well beaten after 5th
held up in rear, took keen hold, not always fluent, well beaten 5th, crumpled and fell 2 out
chased leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened before 3 out
mid-division, not fluent 4th, outpaced next, not fluent 3 out, no impression
chased leaders, led 3 out, clear last, easily
held up towards rear, ridden and well beaten 5th
mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden 3 out, went 3rd towards finish, stayed on same pace
mid-division, headway before 5th, not fluent 3 out, weakened before 2 out
pulled hard, soon prominent, led after 2nd, clear and wandered into 3rd, 4th and 5th, headed 3 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner last
held up in mid-division, 6th 3 out, no impression on leaders, mistake 2 out
took keen hold, led before 1st, headed after 2nd, chased leader until ridden and weakened after 5th, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, headway after 5th, switched left before 2 out, no extra final 150 yards
led until before 1st, chased leaders, weakened 5th
Sam Twiston-Davies is picking up some nice mounts for Dr Richard Newland with the stable enjoying its customary successful summer, notably with chasers who are delivering a 39% strike rate. The stable has garnered a reputation for improving horses from other yards so it will be interesting to see how ORTHODOX LAD gets on. He wasn't disgraced behind a useful pair in Life And Soul and Sidney Melbourne last time and must have good claims in a contest housing plenty of dead wood. He looks a solid choice as previous hurdling efforts were satisfactory in the context of this race. Check out any support for Swift Escape on his first run since November 2012 and keep the bumper winner on the right side whatever his fate here, whilst the ex-German Tempuran could be one to watch on his hurdling debut for the Bridgwater team, along with Epic Storm.
Epic Storm (IRE) 40-1 (10-4) Tracked winner, mistake 6th, blundered 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 14, 22l behind Professeur Emery (11-0) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.
Gavi 125-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, in touch before 3 out, weakened approaching next, mistake last, 5th of 7, 35l behind Purple 'n Gold (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Leader Of The Land (IRE) 10-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden and led 2f out, driven out, won at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jul '11 beating Incendo (9-11) by 1/2l, 7 ran (flat).
Mayan Flight (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division, went 7th before 2 out, one pace and never dangerous, 5th of 13, 40l behind Azure Fly (11-0) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.
Moscow Me (IRE) 2-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, not fluent 5th, led 3 out, went right and mistake 2 out, soon ridden, headed before last, no impression flat, eased considerably close home, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Portofino Wasp (10-10) at Stratford 2m nov hdl (4) gf.
Orthodox Lad 7-2 (9-8) Tracked leaders, not that fluent, hit rails before 2nd, one pace in 3rd 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 6, 19l behind Life And Soul (11-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f Ladies Handicap Hurdle (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gf.
Prince Freddie 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden and struggling after 3 out, 8th of 17, 37l behind Tresor De Bontee (11-4) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Swift Escape 15-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out until ridden before 2 out, weakening when hit last, 6th of 13, 19l behind Smadynium (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Who Am I 40-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden and beaten when went left 2 out, went poor 3rd close home, 3rd of 9, 34l behind Not Til Monday (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f cnd/am sll hdl (5) hvy in Dec.
Hallings Comet 8-1 (8-7) Pulled hard held up, taken to race alone over 5f out, prominent until halway, weakened over 2f out, last of 8, 43l behind I'm So Glad (8-10) at Newmarket 7f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug (flat).
King Of Forces 66-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 15, well behind Buthelezi (11-7) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
No No Cardinal (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Led and keen, headed before 4 out, quickly lost place, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Theatre Evening (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Tempuran 3-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, chased leader 5f out until approaching final 3f, soon pushed along and hung left, stayed chasing leaders, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 7, 17l behind Nave (9-6) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jun (flat).
Drombeg West 20-1 (10-12) Prominent, led after 4th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 11, 34l behind Crazy (10-10) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gf.
On The Cusp (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Prominent, mistake 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 11, 42l behind Engai (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.
