mid-division, effort 3f out, soon outpaced, weakened next, tailed off
tracked leaders, remindered 4f out, ridden approaching next, weakened 2f out, tailed off
held up in rear, one pace after 3f out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, lost place when mistake 3f out, soon weakened
tracked leader, challenged after 2f out, led last, ridden clear flat comfortably
mid-division, headway after 4f out, went 3rd next, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, no impression
held up, ridden approaching 2f out, never on terms
raced keenly and led, joined after 2f out, headed last, ridden and kept on same pace flat, no chance with winner
Torrid Kentavr lost no caste in defeat when chasing home Star Of Germany over fences at Stratford last week and James Lambe's gelding has to be considered back over hurdles but his big weight and softer ground is of concern and preference is for WOODY VALENTINE, who gets the vote ahead of Border Tale. James Moffatt's gelding handles fast ground but will not be inconvenienced by the testing conditions today judged by recent flat form and he has claims off what seems a fair mark. Jim Goldie has his string in good form at present so his runner, Grand Diamond, has to be considered on only his third start over hurdles but he would probably want the ground to quicken up a bit so looks best watched. Peter Monteith's Lutea has been running well in recent starts over both hurdles and fences, winning four of his last five starts, but they have been on faster ground and he is likely to struggle here unless the ground dries out significantly. Evelyn Slack's Woody Valentine should have no problems with the underfoot conditions having been good value for his win on a soft surface over fences at Sedgefield in May and at Uttoxeter over hurdles previously and he looks the one to be on.
Torrid Kentavr (USA) 14-1 (11-12) Held up in third, not fluent 8th, ridden after 2 out, chased winner approaching last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 4, 3l behind Star of Germany (11-12) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf.
Orpen Wide (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Prominent, weakened approaching 6th, 11th of 15, well behind Miss Phoebe (11-3) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Jun.
Border Tale 25-1 (10-3) Always towards rear, 8th of 15, 17l behind Toshi (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd.
Woody Valentine (USA) 9-1 (10-6) Led to 3rd, outpaced 3 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on to chase winner towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Acambo (12-5) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jun.
Front Rank (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Always in rear, ridden 6th, 9th of 14, 24l behind Master At Arms (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f 4yo Am hcp hdl (4) gd in May.
Winged Farasi 33-1 (11-2) Soon chasing leader, lost 2nd after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 10, 17l behind Zafar (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Mossmann Gorge 7-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway after 6th, went 2nd after 3 out, challenging when fell 2 out, in a race won by Ameeq (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May, 13 ran.
Lutea (IRE) 85-40 (11-6) Led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last and weakened flat, 4th of 7, 10l behind Gold Gun (10-12) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Aug '07.
Grand Diamond (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Held up, behind 4 out, ridden next, kept on one pace from approaching last, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Red Moloney (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m hdl (3) gd in Dec.
