held up, mistake 5th, steady headway 7th, led approaching 2 out, ran on
mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakening when hanging left from 2 out
mid-division, mistake 5th, weakened 7th, mistake 2 out
mistake 5th, soon tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, behind from 3rd, pulled up before 5th
in rear and keen, fell heavily 3rd
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, every chance 2 out, one pace last
tracked leaders, lost place and outpaced 6th, stayed on from 2 out, not reach winner
in touch, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
always in rear, weakened approaching 7th, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden when mistake 4 out, weakened 2 out
towards rear, mistake 1st, lost touch 7th, pulled up before 3 out
prominent and jumped left 1st, led after 7th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
keen, in rear, never dangerous
led, headed and weakened after 7th
held up, headway after 7th, weakened 3 out
This race normally throws up a decent sort and BENSALEM is our call ahead of King Of Atlantis and King Fontaine. Plenty was expected of Bensalem on his British debut and he did not disappoint those backers at Sandown Park. Connections have wasted no time in getting over hurdles and the stable are in flying form at present. King Fontaine had no answers to Cape Tribulation in a Uttoxeter bumper. He hails from a family that has plenty of flat speed. King Of Atlantis finished second to Quail on his latest start. He handles soft going but needs to have improved over the summer. Blue Monty was third in an above average event at Exeter. The winner has gone on to score since. Broughton Green appears best when raced close to the pace but nobody wanted to know in the betting ring last time out. Now Listen To Me has had breathing problems in the past so a market check should prove helpful. Paul Webber's debutants are also noted and Winchester Red, who is a close relation to Grand National winner, Red Marauder, might make appeal if the ground is more testing than the official description. Finmere is related to plenty of stayers so this trip, even at Chepstow, might be a tad sharp. Bensalem looks best on what we have seen so far.
Bensalem (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, won at Sandown 2m nhf (4) sft beating Moscow Catch (11-7) by 2l, 19 ran.
Blue Monty (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, went 3rd and not fluent 2 out, ridden when hit last, kept on, 3rd of 17, 5l behind Award Winner (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs.
Broughton Green (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up, steady headway after 4th, one pace from last, 4th of 15, 14l behind Secret Tune (11-0) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gs.
Classic Eclipse 50-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, prominent, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 11th of 15, 29l behind Shalone (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) gs in May.
Finmere (IRE) Glacial Storm gelding out of Water Stratford.
Karinga Magic 100-1 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden 6th, soon weakened, 10th of 17, well behind Oscar Bay (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
King Fontaine (IRE) 15-8jt-fav (11-2) In touch and keen, lost place halfway, slightly hampered over 5f out, kept on under pressure, 4th of 13, 14l behind Cape Tribulation (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (4) gs in Mar.
King of Atlantis (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Always prominent, every chance over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Quail (10-13) at Worcester 2m mdn nhf (6) sft in Apr.
Now Listen To Me 12-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, stayed on same pace final 2f, 4th of 15, 6l behind Riverside Theatre (11-4) at Ascot 2m nhf (4) gd.
Raider of The East (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, tailed off 3 out, 10th of 13, well behind Nikos Extra (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sept.
Sula's Legend 40-1 (11-10) Close up, led 2nd, headed 4 out, soon weakened, 12th of 17, well behind Eleazar (11-10) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr '07.
Tigger 200-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, 15th of 19, 32l behind Bensalem (11-0) at Sandown 2m nhf (4) sft.
Vamizi (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden and dropped rear approaching 7th, stayed on again from 3 out, 5th of 17, 21l behind Award Winner (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs.
Vasodilator (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 17, well behind Award Winner (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs.
Walk Tall (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Held up, headway halfway, every chance over 3f out until over 1f out, soon weakened, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Nulato (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f nhf (6) gs in Dec.
Winchester Red Gunner B gelding, half-brother to several winning hurdlers.
