tracked leaders, disputed 2nd from 8th, joined leader soon after 2 out, driven to lead inside final furlong, ran on
tracked leader, joined 8th, ridden 3 out, weakened final furlong
keen held up in touch, headway to chase leading pair 2 out, kept on one pace
keen held up in rear, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
led, ridden and hit 2 out, soon joined, headed inside final furlong, driven and ran on
This is a potentially informative contest as all of these were useful over hurdles. Urban Hymn won the Grade 2 River Don Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster in January but that was over 3m and he could find this on the sharp side. Ubaltique gave Hit The Top 8lb and a beating over timber at Catterick the same month and has already had a couple of outings over fences while Morning Royalty has won twice here over the smaller obstacles. DUKE OF NAVAN has gone well fresh in the past and is built to jump fences. He can make a winning start for Nicky Richards.
Duke Of Navan (IRE) 2-1fav (11-7) Held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, fell last, in a race won by Runswick Royal (11-3) at Kelso 2m 2f hdl (2) gs in Feb, 6 ran.
Hit The Top (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, joined leader 4 out, led narrowly next, ridden and headed between last 2, no extra flat, lost 3rd near finish, 4th of 7, 5l behind Brother Du Berlais (11-7) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-155 (2) gs in Apr.
Morning Royalty (IRE) 66-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, struggling 7th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Clondaw Kaempfer (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Apr, 22 ran.
Ubaltique (FR) 40-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, 18th of 22, 33l behind Court Minstrel (11-12) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Urban Hymn (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, prominent, led 4th, hit 8th and headed, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 18, 50l behind Very Wood (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
