with leader, jumped left 3rd and 4th, lost place 5th, weakened 3 out
led, blundered 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, jumped right and headed last, no extra
towards rear, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
prominent, ridden and outpaced 3 out, stayed on well to lead last, hard ridden flat, headed post
held up last and jumped left throughout, ridden and headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, jumped left last, ran on flat
held up towards rear, hit 5th, good headway and chased leaders 3 out, every chance last, not quicken flat
held up towards rear, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, headway 2 out, hampered last, switched left, ran on strongly to lead final stride
prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
Noland looks the one to beat here, with his biggest dangers reckoned to be Pak Jack and Tarzan du Mesnil. Judged on his bumper debut win at this track - he then went on to finish sixth in the Aintree Festival bumper - Noland could well make into a decent hurdler, and connections seem to have found him a reasonably soft race in which to start him off. Pak Jack, though, is no hurdling mug, as he proved when winning at Ludlow last time and Philip Hobbs' runner, who has also won over fences, should go well. Russian Around is potentially interesting from the Nick Gifford yard, although he was cheaply acquired, and a better place option might be Tarzan du Mesnil, who finished fourth in a fair Kempton bumper in March on his sole start to date. He is feared, but, while Wizzical Lad showed some promise in bumpers in 2002, he has clearly had his problems since. Finally, winning pointer Come To The Bar showed little on his hurdling debut, and Dearson has suggested that he might do better in time. However, Noland gets a pretty solid vote.
Come To The Bar (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 5th, joined leader 8th, ridden after next, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 10, well behind Nite Fox (10-3) at Uttoxeter 3m mdn hdl (E) gd in May.
Dearson (IRE) 40-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, hit 3rd, effort after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 37l behind Mighty Man (11-7) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Mar.
Its A Classic 66-1 (10-11) Took keen hold, held up, headway on inside over 4f out, weakened 3f out, 6th of 7, 18l behind Sun Pageant (11-4) at Worcester 2m nhf (H) gf.
Missyl (FR) 5-1 (11-7) pulled up in race won by Force Twelve (12-0) at Larkhill 3m ptp gf in Mar, 11 ran.
Noland 5-2 (10-12) Held up, headway on outside over 5f out, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 22, 5l behind The Cool Guy (10-11) at Aintree 2m 1f nhf Grd 2 (A) gs in Apr.
Pak Jack (FR) 5-2 (11-0) Prominent pulling hard, led after 3rd, ridden 3 out, headed last, not quicken, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind At Your Request (11-8) at Ludlow 2m hdl (E) gd in May.
Russian Around (IRE) Moscow Society gelding out of a maiden racemare.
Tarzan du Mesnil (FR) 40-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, led over 4f out to 2f out, soon headed and no extra final furlong, 4th of 16, 3 1/2l behind Grenfell (10-11) at Kempton 2m mdn nhf (H) gs in Mar.
