keen, led 1st, headed after 4th, weakened quickly, pulled up before last
mid-division, reminders 2nd, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway after 4th, led on bit after 3 out, 12 lengths clear and going well when fell last
held up, headway to chase leader 4th, ridden and pecked 3 out, challenged and every chance 2 out, beaten when left 2nd last, rallied run-in to lead close home
never in contention, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
soon chasing leader, led after 4th, ridden and headed 3 out, no chance with leader when left in lead last, weakened and headed close home
held up in touch, headway after 4th, soon ridden and weakened
behind, mistake 3rd, stayed on from 2 out to be nearest at finish
pulled hard in rear, always behind, pulled up before 3 out
led 1st, headed and mistake, in touch and weakened 4th, soon tailed off
Coach Lane is clearly no world-beater but should be good enough to open his account against his rivals today with the main threats looking to come from Surfboard and Blu Teen. The last mentioned is an interesting recruit from France trained by Paul Nicholls and should appreciate any further softening of the ground although lack of a previous run is of great concern. Baranook showed promise from limited starts on the flat but has yet to translate that to the winter game, while Martin Pipe's Noble Bily was nothing out of the ordinary in France and may not be one of his stable's better recruits from across the channel. A One has the ability to win a race of this nature but disappointed on his return, while Gunship has given little cause for optimism so far and of more interest may be bumper winner Surfboard, who ran with credit in a decent race on his hurdling debut. Coach Lane has an obvious chance in this grade though and he gets the vote.
A One (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Pulled hard, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Ask The Gatherer (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl (E) gd in Nov, 18 ran.
Baranook (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, some headway when hampered 2 out, jumped badly left last, 5th of 14, 27l behind Bonny Grey (10-9) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (F) gs in Apr.
Blu Teen (FR) Epervier Bleu gelding, half-brother to winning hurdler Calouteene.
Coach Lane 2-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, ridden 2 out, no extra approaching last, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Lyes Green (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (E) hvy in Nov.
Gunship (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Mid-division, lost place 3rd, well behind from 4th, 10th of 14, well behind Natal (11-8) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (C) gd in Nov.
Kingtobee (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Never in contention, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Prato (11-2) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (E) sft in Mar, 12 ran.
Noble Bily (FR) (10-3) In touch to 2 out, one pace, 4th of 20, 8l behind Monselet Bastille (10-3) at Auteuil 2m 2f hdl in Nov.
Surfboard (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakening when mistake last, 7th of 11, 19l behind Mister Quasimodo (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
