held up in mid-division, headway before 4th, pushed along before next, weakened before 3 out
held up towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon struggling, never a factor
chased leaders, 3rd on inside 4 out, travelling well when not fluent and slow next, kept on same pace from 2 out
mid-division, plugged on same pace from 2 out
held up and behind, headway on outside into mid-division before 4 out, soon beaten
led until 3 out, chased winner, no impression from next, kept on for 2nd
took keen hold, held up towards rear, some headway into mid-division approaching 3 out, one pace and no impression next
chased leaders, ridden one pace and no impression in 4th approaching 3 out, no extra last
chased leader, challenged 4 out, led next, clear from 2 out, kept on strongly, eased close home
always towards rear, never a factor
took keen hold, held up towards rear, never on terms
Coolbeg hasn't run over hurdles since 2011 and is strike rate is off-putting but he's often to be found in decent company over fences. Toe To Toe won at Worcester in July but disappointed on a return visit last month and neither Stratford second Taroum nor Uttoxeter third Maxdelas are exactly progressive. Peak Storm has won four times on the course on the Flat but struggles to stay the trip over hurdles while Going Nowhere Fast was pulled up in a seller at Newton Abbot earlier this month having beaten Seaside Shuffle into fourth at Stratford earlier. ACAPULCO BAY can't get much lower in the weights and arrives off the back of several consistent efforts on the Flat. He gets the nod under a 5lb claimer who rides this course well.
Strictly The One (IRE) 200-1 (10-6) Held up and well off the pace in 6th, went never dangerous dispute of 4th and hit 2 out, 4th of 13, 32l behind Rolling Maul (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Coolbeg (IRE) 8-1 (10-3) Tracked leader until dived at 4th, tracked leading pair until 3 out, squeezed out soon after, stayed on same pace in 4th from 2 out, 4th of 6, 7l behind Greywell Boy (11-9) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Mar.
Powerful Action (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, went 3rd before 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 36l behind Strollawaynow (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Acapulco Bay 12-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, ridden on outside and struggling before 2 out, never on terms, 14th of 17, 32l behind Kruseman (10-13) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gf in May.
Peak Storm 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, chased leaders after 4 out, hit next, weakened before last, 7th of 10, 11l behind Rolling Dough (9-11) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Con Forza (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, soon ridden and beaten, weakened next, last of 10, well behind Petrovic (11-4) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd.
Going Nowhere Fast (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Mid-division, took keen hold, struggling after 4th, behind when pulled up before next, in a race won by Party Girls (9-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f sel hcp hdl (0-100) (5) gd, 11 ran.
Toe To Toe (IRE) 11-4fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 12, 23l behind My Nosy Rosy (11-5) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gf in Aug.
Taroum (IRE) 11-8fav (10-11) Held up, headway 3 out, went 2nd before last, driven flat, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Solitairy Girl (11-0) at Stratford 2m 3f cond sll hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd.
Seaside Shuffle (IRE) 22-1 (10-10) Towards rear, headway on inside approaching 2 out, went 3rd 2 out, soon pushed along and not pace of leading duo, no impression, not fluent and lost 3rd last, one pace, 4th of 12, 12l behind Going Nowhere Fast (9-13) at Stratford 2m 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Aug.
Maxdelas (FR) 10-1 (9-10) Held up behind, headway after 4 out, chased leaders before 2 out, driven to take 3rd between last 2, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Ever So Much (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd.