prominent, led 3rd, headed 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out,
towards rear, never dangerous
held up toward rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, kept on towards finish
with leaders, led 2nd, headed next, led again 3 out, headed and hit 2 out, weakened towards finish
led to 2nd, chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway approaching 3 out, no impression
chased leaders, led 2 out, kept on well, driven out
held up in rear, pushed along and outpaced approaching 3 out in rear, headway approaching last, stayed on well to take 3rd, nearest at finish
tracked leaders, weakened after 4 out
chased leaders, every chance 3 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, kept on after 2 out
held up mid-division, ridden after 4 out, hit 3 out, headway approaching next, kept on, no impression
held up mid-division, saddle slipped soon after start, mistake 3rd, soon pulled up
mid-division on inner, weakened approaching 4 out
In the hope that Bothy has advertised the form on Tuesday, AL QEDDAAF gets the vote ahead of Park Lane and Ascendant. Donald McCain's gelding was a solid handicapper on the level and seemed versatile with regards ground, so it was no surprise current connections paid 80,000gns for his services in October. He unseated Jason Maguire at the first on his hurdling debut but left that disappointment behind when second last time. The winner has pretensions of running at the Festival so with improvement still likely we'll chance Al Qeddaaf ahead of Park Lane. The last named is sure to attract his share of support as an unexposed Nicky Henderson runner, but the form of his hurdling debut isn't quite of the same level of our selection's second last time. That said, the pair are closely matched on flat form and it may simply be a question of which finds the most improvement. Away from the two most likely winners, Ascendant has claims as a winner already over timber. Not only was he better than those mentioned on the level he was also more expensive, but he might just need a couple more furlongs and has to give weight away here. Similar comments apply to Orsippus who is penalised for a convincing success last time; this is surely tougher and should the ground deteriorate so would his chance. Hurdling newcomer Call It On is preferred to the other penalised runner Myamateeric despite slight stamina concerns, but neither makes as much each way appeal as Gilded Age who needs a good run here to qualify for the Fred Winter and is thought capable of better than we've seen. Worth A King's is another decent flat handicapper but his hurdling debut was modest and he looks second best of the yard behind Al Qeddaaf who gets our vote.
Ascendant 7-2 (11-5) Not fluent 1st, in touch, jumped right and almost unseated rider next, chased leader 5th to before 3 out weakened next, 6th of 7, 43l behind Carlito Brigante (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m 4yo nov hdl (2) gs.
Mymateeric 25-1 (11-1) Chased leader to 3 out, soon ridden, no chance with front pair when blundered 2 out, tailed off, 3rd of 9, 37l behind Mille Chief (10-12) at Kempton 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Orsippus (USA) 4-1 (11-0) Held up, mid-division, headway 4 out, led 3 out, drew clear from last, won at Musselburgh 2m 4yo nov hcp hdl (4) gd beating New Tricks (11-2) by 12l, 9 ran.
Al Qeddaaf (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Held up, headway approaching 5th, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Bothy (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Astracad (FR) 15-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, hit 3 out, went 2nd approaching 5th, weakened approaching last, 5th of 10, 25l behind Open Day (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (4) gs.
Call It On (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, no extra inside final furlong, 8th of 15, 4l behind Luc Jordan (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct (flat).
Gilded Age 25-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, every chance 2 out, one pace from next, no extra towards finish, 4th of 16, 4l behind Blue Nymph (10-5) at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Group Leader (IRE) 125-1 (10-12) Held up, never dangerous, 6th of 16, 11l behind Blue Nymph (10-5) at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Park Lane 4-1 (10-12) Held up, chased leaders from 3 out, not fluent 2 out, challenged last, not quicken, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Open Day (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (4) gs.
Shalambar (IRE) 5-1 (8-3) 5th of 16, 2 1/4l behind Erdiyna (8-8) at Naas 1m 4f hcp 3yo+ gd in Oct (flat).
Solis 9-2 (8-8) Always towards rear, 9th of 10, 21l behind Trans Sonic (8-8) at Southwell 1m hacp 0-70 (5) fbs (flat).
Worth A King's 11-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, driven and no impression from next, 6th of 13, 18l behind Kudu Country (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Eyesore 66-1 (8-0) Always behind, eased over 2f out, last of 10, well behind All Guns Firing (9-4) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs (flat).
Telling Stories (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Mid-division, ridden after 6th, went moderate 4th last, 4th of 16, 27l behind Rupestrian (10-12) at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in May.
Catch A Cloud 14-1 (10-12) Held up, in touch approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, well behind Bocamix (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Duke of Urbino 33-1 (10-9) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Jeronimo Joe (10-7) at Catterick 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gs, 16 ran.
Kochanski (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Held up, never dangerous, 6th of 16, 18l behind Jeronimo Joe (10-7) at Catterick 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gs.
Rapid Desire (IRE) 125-1 (10-5) Close up, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 13, 38l behind Bocamix (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov.
