held up in touch, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, kept on same pace closing stages
held up, mistake 3rd, under pressure 4 out, soon beaten
in touch, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, effort 2 out, weakened last
mistakes in rear, ridden halfway, never dangerous
led, mistake 4 out, headed after last, kept on under pressure
mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, led after last, all out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 4 out, weakened 2 out
prominent, lost place 3 out
chased leaders, effort 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders, lost place 3 out
mid-division, weakened 6th, soon tailed off, pulled up 4 out
held up in rear, weakening when hug badly right after 4 out, pulled up after next
Shut The Box landed the odds in a maiden at Plumpton but carries a penalty here as a consequence. Freedom Run wasn’t entirely disgraced on her hurdles bow at Ludlow last season and is probably capable of better but Fu Fu was a little disappointing at Ffos Las in June after an earlier second over this course and distance. MINELLA BEAT (NAP) changed hands for £140,000 after finishing second to a subsequent Grade 1 winner over hurdles in a Punchestown bumper last November. He looks an above-average recruit to hurdling and should take this if fully wound-up.
Shut The Box (IRE) 10-11fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd or 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, led flat, stayed on, ridden out, won at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) gs in Mar beating Vision Clear (10-7) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Galtee Mountain (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, tailed off, last of 9, dist behind Golden Taipan (11-2) at Warwick 2m mdn (5) gd in May.
Jackson Hill (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up in last pair, dropped to last place 6th, soon lost touch, disputing poor 4th and tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Huntingdon 2m 5f mdn (5) gd in May.
Likeabatoutofhell (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Chased leaders 3f, ran green and behind from halfway, lost touch over 3f out, last of 9, dist behind Shishkin (11-3) at Kempton 2m mdn (5) gs in Mar.
Minella Beat (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Led narrowly, strongly pressed 4f out, ridden and disputed 2f out, narrowly headed 1 1/2f out, no extra in 2nd 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 6 1/2l behind Battleoverdoyen (12-0) at Punchestown 2m gd in Nov.
Neff (GER) 9-1 (9-10) Mid-division, headway on inside over 3f out, ridden and no impression from over 2f out, 6th of 11, 8 1/4l behind Paddy The Chef (9-12) at Chepstow 1m 4f hcp (6) gs in Sep.
Nessfield Blue 100-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, closed before 6th, no impression on leaders next, went modest 3rd after 2 out, 3rd of 7, 36l behind Smith's Bay (11-0) at Warwick 2m 3f (4) gd in May.
Pres (IRE) 150-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, never a factor, 6th of 10, 26 1/4l behind Dashel Drasher (11-11) at Newbury 2m 5f (3) gs in Mar.
Freedom Run 20-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, ridden in modest 3rd when not fluent 3 out, well beaten 5th from 2 out, 5th of 11, 19l behind Liberty Bella (10-10) at Ludlow 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
Fu Fu 11-1 (10-7) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, ridden after 7th, headway after 8th, no impression, well beaten when mistake last, 6th of 10, 19 3/4l behind Barranco Valley (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Jun.
Honey P (IRE) 150-1 (10-9) Always behind, 9th of 12, dist behind Mr Dorrell Sage (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn (4) gd in May.
Mrs Jack (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Towards rear, weakened before 3 out, 10th of 12, 32 3/4l behind Zamperini (11-2) at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) gd in May.
