led, ridden 3 out, jumped left, soon headed and one pace
mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 4 out, joined leader 2 out, led soon after, edged right flat
held up, hit 2nd, some progress after 4th, weakened 3 out
in touch, close up when fell 4 out
never a factor
keen mid-division, headway on inside 4 out, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed soon after, no extra
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
mid-division, lost place 3rd, slightly hampered 4 out, kept on one pace and jumped right last
tracked leaders, chased leaders 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, headway when hampered 4 out, soon ridden and weakened
in touch and keen, ridden to chase leader 3 out, gradually weakened
always in the rear
Ameeq, Bold Fire and Brad's House are the three to look at here with Bold Fire taken to come out on top. After easy wins at Wincanton and Huntingdon in novice contests, Ameeq is thrown in to the deep end in this very competitive handicap hurdle. He could be anything, and rated over 80 on the Flat he has some speed but the feeling is that this may be too tough for such an inexperienced hurdler and he is passed over. After scoring at Fontwell in game style, Brads House went on to be narrowly beaten at Hereford and after a freshening up period he can go well here off a decent mark. Paul Nicholls is represented here by Bold Fire who ran in some top quality novice contests last season. The dual winner acquitted himself well in defeat at the end of last season and he looks fairly treated. Nicholls has an army of talent to call upon and it is significant that the champion trainer nominates Bold Fire to represent him here and Bold Fire may be good enough.
Bureaucrat 2-11fav (11-9) Led 2nd, jumped left 2 out, hard ridden approaching last, headed soon after, hung left flat, kept on final 50 yards but not pace of winner, 2nd of 10, nk behind Cold Mountain (10-6) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Bold Fire 11-10fav (10-13) Tracked winner, challenged approaching 3 out, soon ridden, every chance run-in, held close home, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Royals Darling (11-3) at Ayr 2m 4yo nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Mahogany Blaze (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, driven 3 out, switched left, mistake 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 25l behind Oscatello (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Grasp 10-11fav (10-13) Led until 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out, 3rd when blundered last, 4th of 10, 27l behind Tora Bora (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) sft in Apr.
Orpen Wide (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden after 3 out, challenged from 2 out, ran on to led final 50 yards, won at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Sept beating Iffy (11-2) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Four Schools (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Held up but in touch, ridden after 3 out, one pace and no impression approaching 2 out, 4th of 8, 7l behind Orpen Wide (11-5) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Sept.
Ameeq (USA) 4-7fav (11-5) Mid-division and keen, hit 5th, headway 5th, led 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Sept beating Accumulus (10-2) by 6l, 16 ran.
Baodai (FR) (10-1) In touch, weakened 2 out, 6th of 9, 14l behind Odeillo Du Mathan (10-3) at Auteuil 2m 1f chs Grd 3 in Mar.
Brads House (IRE) 9-4 (11-4) Chased leaders, led 5th, ridden and headed after 2 out, not quicken flat, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Pseudonym (11-4) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Desert Secrets (IRE) 11-2 (10-9) Led, headed 3rd, ridden and weakened 3 out, 9th of 11, 29l behind Wee Dinns (11-8) at Stratford 2m 3f mrs hcp hdl (3) gd in Apr.
Cold Mountain (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) In rear, headway approaching 3 out, not trouble leaders, 4th of 13, 15l behind Rio De Janeiro (10-12) at Stratford 2m nov hdl (3) sft in May.
Equilibria (USA) 3-1jt-fav (11-4) Held up in touch, hit 5th, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, every chance when left in lead last, all out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug beating Looks The Business (11-2) by a hd, 7 ran.
Golden Square 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden after 7th, soon weakened, 9th of 15, 34l behind Il Penseroso (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Sept.
