led early, prominent, not fluent 4 out, weakened after next, pulled up before last
held up in mid-division, not fluent 5th, ridden and well beaten after 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, never on terms, no impression before next
hampered 1st, always in rear, behind 7th, pulled up after
held up towards rear, hampered 5th, headway 4 out, stayed on same pace before 2 out, went 3rd close home
held up in rear, took keen hold, hampered 1st, not fluent 3rd, headway 4 out, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, ridden and lost place after 6th, behind next, soon pulled up
in touch, went 2nd after 3 out until before next, stayed on, went 2nd again last, no impression on winner
in touch in mid-division, closed 7th, went 2nd before 2 out, led approaching last, soon clear, stayed on well
prominent, ridden and lost place 4 out, 7th and no impression when not fluent 2 out
prominent, lost place and ridden after 4th, behind next, soon pulled up
prominent, led 4 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat, lost 3rd close home
held up towards rear, headway after 4th, blundered next, ridden after 7th, soon struggling
soon led and set good gallop, headed 4 out, no extra before 2 out
This looks wide-open and the last two winners take their chance again. Kuilsriver, successful 12 months ago, hasn't shown much in two runs this term but 2012 winner BOURNE has been knocking on the door and still looks well handicapped. Donald McCain's grey races off the same mark as two years ago and it's very hard to knock to form of his latest third over today's course and distance as the winner Irish Saint finished third in last week's betfair Hurdle and the second was placed in a hot handicap at Exeter the following day. Easy Taunton winner Virak will be helped by Jack Sherwood's claim and has more to offer while jockey bookings suggest the progressive Heath Hunter is the pick of David Pipe's trio. Like Minded had Foxcub behind when third in the Lanzarote at Kempton and that's another race that's working out well but the rejuvenated Stopped Out may be too high in the weights now and Two Rockers will probably going over fences sooner rather than later.
Stopped Out 8-1 (11-12) Led and set steady pace, increased tempo from 4th, came to stand's side after 3 out, joined 2 out, soon headed, one pace and no impression when dropped to 3rd between last 2, kept on pressing for 2nd, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Whisper (11-8) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Two Rockers (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway 4 out, effort 2 out, weakened last, 9th of 17, 16l behind Gevrey Chambertin (11-7) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Foxcub (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd and jumped right 4 out, led before 3 out, ridden and headed before next, weakened 2 out, 6th of 13, 24l behind Saphir Du Rheu (11-7) at Kempton 2m 5f Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Like Minded 16-1 (11-2) Raced wide, held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 3 out, ridden and went 2nd after 2 out, no chance with winner, lost 2nd run in, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Saphir Du Rheu (11-7) at Kempton 2m 5f Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Lough Kent (10-7) 6th of 9, 10l behind Horabora Has (10-5) at Enghien(FR) 2m 3f Listed chs (1) hvy in Oct.
Leo Luna 16-1 (10-12) Prominent, led 4th, headed after next, awkward 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Sametegal (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Changing The Guard 13-2 (11-9) Led, ridden and headed after last, under pressure in 3rd straight, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Rebel Fitz (11-9) at Galway 2m 1f nov chs hvy in Aug.
Dan Breen (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Chased leader until 4th, chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, weakened soon after, 9th of 20, 24l behind Willow's Saviour (10-5) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Art Professor (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on, no impression, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Prideofthecastle (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft.
Kaylif Aramis 7-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, blundered 3rd, went 2nd 6th, bumped 4 out, led briefy before 2 out, chased leaders, weakened before left in modest 5th at the last, 5th of 13, 19l behind Saphir Du Rheu (11-7) at Kempton 2m 5f Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Seymour Eric 25-1 (11-5) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd or 4th, headway before 8th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, 7th of 9, 27l behind Josies Orders (10-8) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
Kuilsriver (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, ridden and lost place 8f out, well beaten final 5f, 12th of 13, well behind Domtaline (11-0) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
Heath Hunter (IRE) 4-11fav (10-5) Made all, clear when field came into view briefly after 3rd, unchallenged when came into view again after 3 out, stayed on well (no time taken, poor visibility), won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Make Me A Fortune (10-12) by 10l, 10 ran.
Bourne 5-1 (10-4) Chased leaders in 4th, hit 6th, pushed along and lost place after 7th, soon driven along and outpaced, rallied and stayed on again from 2 out, went 3rd between last 2, 3rd of 9, 13l behind Irish Saint (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) hvy in Jan.
Bygones Sovereign (IRE) 6-1 (10-3) Led and clear after 2nd until approaching 5th, ridden and headed after 3 out, outpaced before next, rallied to 3rd at the last, 3rd of 13, 4l behind Alder Mairi (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Jan.
Virak (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Led until 1st, with leader, not fluent 3rd, mistake 3 out, drew well clear approaching 2 out, kept up to work, stayed on, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan beating Sustainability (10-11) by 42l, 5 ran.
