mid-division, good headway approaching 6th, ridden in 3rd after next, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway after 6th, hit 3 out, soon ridden, led approaching last, ran on well
always towards rear
led, ridden and headed after 3 out, rallied to lead again next, headed approaching last, not pace of winner
close up, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, 3rd and held when mistake last
prominent, not fluent 1st, 2nd and 6th, ridden to lead after 3 out, headed before next, kept on same pace
never fluent, always towards rear
mid-division, headway to join leaders 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, slightly outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on again from 2 out
chased leaders, struggling when saddle slipped 6th, not recover and soon behind
held up, mistake 2nd, headway approaching 6th, ridden when mistake 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, mistake 5th, weakening when mistake 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
Nonrunner
King Caine is preferred to Templer and Thunder Rock in a competitive contest. The selection needs to improve on his bare form to get the better of some battle hardened individuals but with just three runs over hurdles to his name there's every chance that he can do so. His future lies over fences but the form of his win on his hurdling debut reads well and it's interesting that his in-form connections are taking this route with him. Templer becomes the latest in a long line of chasers to try and exploit a lower mark over hurdles but he is fairly exposed in this sphere and always struggled to get his head in front as a record of one win and five seconds in fifteen starts testifies. He should go well however as should Thunder Rock who will appreciate the faster ground conditions and has the ability to win races from his current mark. A few others have chances but those are the three that we like and we'll be hoping that King Caine can reign.
Bold Fire 25-1 (10-11) Hit 5th and next, always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by One Gulp (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Bureaucrat 25-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway from 3 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden and hung left well before last, soon beaten, 8th of 19, 6l behind Katies Tuitor (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Laustra Bad (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Always behind, stuggling after 3 out, 15th of 17, 43l behind Mous Of Men (10-12) at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Templer (IRE) 15-2 (11-1) Prominent, ridden and took close order 4 out, went 2nd approaching 3 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Oslot (11-3) at N Abbot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gs in Apr.
King Caine (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Raced freely, tracked leader, led approaching 5th, headed 6th, led next, headed 4 out, lost 2nd last, 3rd of 14, 19l behind Crescent Island (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Thunder Rock (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Held up, mistake 7th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 11, 33l behind Stripe Me Blue (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Nanga Parbat (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Jumped left, held up, ridden when pecked 3 out, beaten when mistake and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Fabulous Jet (10-12) at Taunton 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Feb, 7 ran.
Count Kristo 11-2 (11-1) Chased leader until fell at the 8th in race won by Sou'wester (11-12) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Cold Mountain (IRE) 17-2 (10-9) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, every chance flat, no extra, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Pocket Aces (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Pocket Too 33-1 (10-9) Chased leader, hit 5th, pushed along after 3 out, weakened from next, 7th of 17, 6l behind Majaales (11-1) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Glad Big (GER) 9-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, short of room on bend after 4th, some headway next, weakened 3 out, 7th of 14, 37l behind Border Castle (11-5) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar.
Stagehand (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) In touch, mistake 5th, ridden to lead briefly 2 out, blundered last, kept on one pace, 4th of 16, 19l behind Cornas (10-12) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Lit Et Mixe (FR) 14-1 (10-11) In touch, niggled along from 4th, outpaced 3 out, hard ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on to lead and left clear last, won at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Apr beating Melvino (10-7) by 4l, 8 ran.
