towards rear, some headway 5th, weakened before 3 out
towards rear, lost touch 4th, stayed on same pace from 3 out, hit 2 out
prominent, led approaching 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, headed approaching last, rallied flat, just failed
mid-division, headway 4th, ridden behind leaders approaching 3 out, kept on from 2 out
mid-division, some headway after 5th, soon weakened
towards rear, slightly hampered 3rd, weakened 5th
prominent, led 3rd to 4th, challenged and every chance 3 out, weakened 2 out
chased leader, ridden and lost touch 5th, soon weakened
mid-division, some headway after 5th, no impression from 3 out
mid-division, lost touch 4th, soon weakened
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden and challenged 3 out, led approaching last, kept on gamely
towards rear, headway 4th, shaken up after 5th, challenged approaching 3 out, every chance approaching 2 out, weakened last
always behind, tailed off 3rd, pulled up before 3 out
soon led, headed 3rd, led 4th until after 5th, weakened 2 out
towards rear, lost touch 4th, behind
prominent, ridden after 5th, kept on same pace from 2 out
It may be worth chancing Grand Bay in the opener and he may have the most to fear from Napoleon and Good Citizen, while Forty Acers will be a threat if he has brushed up on his jumping. The last named won a Stratford bumper in good style but was very sloppy on his hurdles debut at the same course last month. Martin Pipe is sure to have put him through his paces at home and it will be very noteworthy to see how the betting market reacts to this son of Bob Back. Good Citizen showed progressive form last season but his limitations were well exposed when he finished down the field in a Grade three at Sandown when he was last seen out. Admittedly that was a much stronger race than this and, as he sets a good standard for the rest, he has to be respected in this company. Napoleon failed to really sparkle during his time with Aidan O'Brien but still reached a rating of 85 at his best on the Flat. As a brother to several useful stayers (including Albanov, who still plies his trade in France) he may be in need of slightly further in this sphere. He may still need more time. The Luder is another worth a mention, as he makes his debut for a top yard and, as he has experience of the pointing fields, he should know plenty about what is required of him. However, Grand Bay may prove to be a lot better than he showed on his hurdling bow at Cheltenham and is given another chance to prove why JP McManus invested his faith and money in him earlier this year. There looked to be several potentially useful types in that Cheltenham contest and, with Grand Bay open to bags of improvement now that he has proved that he can jump, he looks a fair prospect in a very tricky heat to fathom.
Fourty Acers (IRE) 6-4fav (10-12) Held up in touch, not fluent 3rd, mistake 5th, weakening when mistake 2 out, 3rd of 8, 14l behind College Ace (10-12) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (D) gs in Oct.
Good Citizen (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Close up, hit 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 18, well behind Julius Caesar (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Mar.
Missyl (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden 5th, lost touch after 3 out, hit 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 6, well behind Refinement (11-3) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (C) gd.
Napoleon (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Held up, hampered 1st, not fluent 2nd, stayed on from last, never near leaders, 5th of 15, 19l behind Mikado (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (F) gs in Oct.
Sandmartin (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Menchikov (11-0) at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (E) gd.
Sea The Light 5-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, headway 5th, 2nd and going well when fell 3 out in race won by Refinement (11-3) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (C) gd, 6 ran.
The Luder (IRE) (11-7) won at Kilmallock 3m ire ptp gs in Apr beating Cooldine Boy (11-7) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Grand Bay (USA) 11-2 (11-2) Took keen hold, held up in rear, mistake 4 out, steady headway approaching next, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 11, 22l behind Motorway (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (D) gd in Oct.
