held up, late headway from approaching 2 out to go 3rd
held up in touch, headway approaching 4 out, not fluent 3 out, beaten when hit last
soon behind tailed off after 4th, pulled up before 3 out
led 1st, soon pushed along and lost position, tailing off when blundered 3rd, pulled up before next
prominent, headway to lead approaching 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat
held up mid-division, headway 4th, soon ridden and weakened approaching 4 out
chased leaders until ridden and weakened after 4th
chased winner until ridden 4 out, weakened next
slowly into stride, jumped badly left 1st and unseated rider
led after 1st, headed 3 out, ridden and led again approaching last, not fluent, ran on flat
behind, mistake and reminder 2nd, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
behind, reminder from 2nd, driven along in rear throughout
Lord Killeshanra has been running consistently well of late and has to be respected but preference is for the less exposed Bannow Strand, who gets the verdict over Nycteos. The last mentioned showed promise on his British debut at Sandown but failed to progress from that on his most recent start at Stratford and may be best watched at present. Salt Cellar hails from the in-form stable of Paul Webber and ran better last time but needs to improve again to trouble the selection, while Jo's Sale has an absence to overcome and lacks any hurdling experience. Lord Killeshanra, who showed ability in bumpers and is beginning to show a similar level of form over hurdles as well, holds more solid claims. However, Martin Pipe's Bannow Strand is lightly raced and has shown enough in two starts so far to suggest that a race of this nature would be within his compass.
Bannow Strand (IRE) 5-4fav Led, headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 5th of 11, 18l behind Mister Mustard at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (E) gs.
Flying Druid (FR) 66-1 Led until approaching 2nd, with leader until weakened quickly after 4 out, 10th of 15, 46l behind Arctic Blue at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (E) sft.
Jo's Sale (IRE) 12-1 Towards rear, headway 5f out to go in touch, ridden to chase leaders over 3f out, soon one pace, 6th of 21, 7l behind Some Timbering at Worcester 2m nhf (H) gf in Aug.
Lord Killeshanra (IRE) 15-8fav Held up towards rear, headway 7th, ridden 3 out, no chance with winner from next, 2nd of 14, 12l behind Laska De Thaix at Exeter 3m nov hdl (E) gs.
Salt Cellar (IRE) 33-1 Mid-division, ridden approaching 4 out, not fluent 3 out, headway approaching last, stayed on well flat, 4th of 11, 2l behind Nanga Parbat at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) gs.
Tudor Buck (IRE) 28-1 Prominent for 10f, tailed off, 7th of 9, 44l behind Red Georgie at Worcester 2m nhf (H) gd in Oct.
Nycteos (FR) 50-1 Tracked leaders and not jump well, weakened 4 out, mistake 3 out, 6th of 15, 41l behind United at Stratford 2m 4yo nov hdl (C) sft.
Text 20-1 Held up, not clear run over 3f out, no chance after, 10th of 12, 14l behind Riska King at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp (E3) pol in Oct (Flat).
