held up, headway after 4 out, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, hampered 2 out, never dangerous
held up in touch, headway to track leaders approaching 3 out, soon every chance, weakened approaching last
held up in touch, headway 5th, led 3 out, clear approaching last, eased towards finish
mid-division, headway 4 out, hit next, ridden and weakened 2 out
always behind, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
with leader, led approaching 4th, headed 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, ridden after 4 out, weakened next, hit 2 out
mid-division, weakened after 4 out
held up, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up, blundered 4th, headway 4 out, ridden and one pace in 3rd when fell 2 out
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
held up in rear, headway after 4 out, weakened next
led, headed approaching 4th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
Senorita Rumbelita gets the vote over a whole host of tough opponents such as Bureaucrat, Straw Bear, Desert Quest and Conna Castle. Yet another fantastic race to whet the appetite and with so many in with chances it is difficult to be confident, but Alan King's mare Senorita Rumbelita has everything needed to run a big race. She has a good turn of foot and will handle this sharp track better than she would have Cheltenham. Connections decided to bypass the Supreme Novices' to wait for this and their patience will hopefully be rewarded. Bureaucrat also sidestepped Cheltenham, and had a choice of options at this meeting. He was entered for the four-year-old hurdle on Thursday but runs here with the age allowance in his favour, and although this is a lot tougher than the contest that he won easily at Hereford, the Hobbs inmate can play a part, even more so if the ground dries up. Straw Bear got mugged on the line by Noland at Cheltenham, and but for a mistake who knows, there may have been a different outcome. You can add him to the shortlist as well along with Desert Quest, good winner of the County Hurdle. Best of the Irish is Conna Castle who absolutely bolted up at Naas, but he would surely prefer it softer. The Duke's Speech, Welcome Stranger and Yenaled all have potential, but are up against it, and in a wide-open affair we return to Senorita Rumbelita as the answer.
Desert Quest (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (10-10) Held up towards rear, blundered 5th, smooth headway from 2 out, chased leaders going well, led last, ridden, pushed out, ran on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar beating Noble Request (10-11) by 2 1/2l,.
Wanango (GER) 7-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, progress on outer after 3 out, slight mistake next, soon no extra, 5th of 7, 14l behind Merdeka (11-5) at Naas 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Conna Castle (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Tracked leaders, improved into 3rd travelling well 3 out, led next, soon clear, not extended, won at Naas 2m nov hdl hvy in Mar beating Glenfinn Captain (11-12) by 20l, 13 ran.
Straw Bear (USA) 11-1 (11-7) Not fluent 2nd, in touch on inside, headway and went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, not fluent last, driven and kept on well flat caught near finish, 2nd of 20, nk behind Noland (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Senorita Rumbalita 11-2 (11-2) Held up in touch, hit 3 out, headway 2 out, switched left before last, ran on flat to lead closae home, won at Sandown 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Mister Quasimodo (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Arctic Cove 16-1 (11-3) In touch, stumbled and fell at the 4th in race won by Harmony Brig (11-10) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (5) sft in Feb, 18 ran.
Auenmoon (GER) 5-4fav (11-4) Made all, clear from 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Double Vodka (11-4) by 10l, 16 ran.
Circassian (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) In touch, went 2nd and hit 7th, hit 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 5th of 9, 29l behind Be Be King (11-10) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Classic Role 4-1 (11-0) In touch, effort 3 out, left chasing winner 2 out, no impression approaching last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 18, 3l behind Midas Way (11-0) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Moon Over Miami (GER) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in rear division, still plenty to do 2 out, shaken up approaching last, ran on well flat, improve, 4th of 18, 10l behind Midas Way (11-0) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Temple Place (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, headway approaching 6th, led on bit 2 out soon clear, jumped right and hit last, easily, won at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Dandygrey Russett (10-7) by 13l, 14 ran.
The Duke's Speech (IRE) Evensfav (11-9) Led, keen, headed approaching 2nd, ridden to lead again approaching 2 out, hard ridden from last, kept on, won at Catterick 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Silver Dollars (11-2) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Welcome Stranger 11-8 (11-0) Held up, headway 5th, led approaching last, pushed out, won at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Mar beating Vaughan (11-0) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Whispered Promises (USA) 100-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, driven and some headway approaching 2 out, never going pace to reach leader, 8th of 20, 5l behind Noland (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Yenaled 9-4jt-fav (11-2) Held up, headway 5th, led 2 out, kept on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar beating Pearl Fisher (10-9) by 9l, 9 ran.
Bureaucrat 4-9fav (11-3) Prominent, led approaching 3rd, clear 2 out, unchallenged, won at Hereford 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Whistle Blowing (10-7) by 20l, 16 ran.
