jumped slowly in rear, short lived effort 4 out, never dangerous
held up, effort approaching 3 out, no impression
chased leaders, led 4 out, ridden and headed next, no impression
tracked leaders, effort and edged left from 2 out, kept on
held up mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out
with leader, led 2nd until 4 out, weakened from next
held up in touch, weakened 3 out
led to 2nd and raced keen, weakened 7th
held up in touch, headway 4 out, led next, clear from 2 out
Point-to-point winner Viking Rebel looks the pick of the two runners from the yard of Nicky Richards ahead of Box Wallah and has to be respected but Panthera Leo has solid claims and he gets the vote. The selection was a winner first time out in bumper company and has already shown ability in two start over hurdles, latterly when finding just one too good at Wetherby and a reproduction of that effort may suffice. Ferdy Murphy's Bewery Man, a point-to-point scorer, should come on for his rules debut but is likely to do much better when sent chasing, while Etxalar showed only a modicum of ability on the level and is hard to recommend on his hurdling debut. Inverlochy Lad is probably best watched on his first start for 562 days and a safer option looks to be Panthera Leo, who gets the vote.
Bewery Man (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, 8th 6f out, kept on without threatening under pressure from before straight, 5th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Kirbybroguelantern (11-7) at Tralee 2m nhf gd in May.
Box Wallah (IRE) Accordion gelding out of an unraced mare.
Etxalar (FR) 66-1 (9-10) Tracked winner, ridden 3f out, soon lost place, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 15l behind Snake's Head (8-12) at Newcastle 1m 4f mdn aut stk (6) gs in Oct (Flat).
Fair Hills Baba (FR) 4-1 (10-11) Towards rear, headway to chase leaders over 4f out, carried left over 2f out, soon no impression, 5th of 18, 5l behind Alderseed (11-1) at Perth 2m nhf (5) gd in May.
Heez A Steel (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) In touch, pushed along approaching 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, 5th of 13, 12l behind Cash Man (10-5) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf.
High Delight 100-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 8th of 13, 30l behind Cash Man (10-5) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf.
Inverlochy Lad (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, moderate 3rd and ridden 2f out, kept on to 2nd 1f out, stayed on strongly to lead close home, won at Downpatrick 2m 2f ldy nhf gd in May '06 beating Grey Crown (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Panthera Leo (IRE) 6-4jt-fav (10-12) Chased leader, mistake when joined leader 4 out, led approaching next, headed flat, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Oxford de Lagarde (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Tycheros 16-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, 7th of 8, 32l behind Raffish (11-1) at Perth 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Aug.
Viking Rebel (IRE) (12-0) Won at Horse And Jockey 3m ire ptp sft in Mar beating Oscar Run (12-0) by a distance, 16 ran.
