mid-division, headway 3 out, led approaching and hit next, clear before last, ran on well
held up in touch, pushed along before 3 out, soon driven to challenge, kept on same pace
held up, headway before 3 out, chased winner 2 out, kept on same pace
led, driven and headed before 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, jumped left 5th, ridden and effort 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up, never dangerous
chased leaders, headway before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, headway 5th, soon prominent, weakened 2 out
held up, never dangerous
held up, headway when hampered 2 out, weakening when mistake last
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, never nearer
held up towards rear, driven 3 out, headway next, stayed on well, never troubled leaders
held up in rear, headway 4 out, chasing leaders when fell 2 out
behind, under pressure and not fluent 3 out, soon no impression
TURF WAR is given the vote to win this competitive novice hurdle at the expense of Tayarat and Rampant Ronnie. The selection makes the relatively short journey over the Irish Sea to contest in this trappy affair. He broke his maiden tag for Michael Hourigan at Cork in March and was good enough to win with a penalty at Wexford last time out. This will be his stiffest task to date carrying a double penalty but he continues to improve and if at his best he is sure to be in the shake-up. Tayarat won on the flat for Marcus Tregoning and broke his maiden tag over hurdles at Exeter in April. He has since been running in handicaps and was disappointing when running off a mark of 110 at Newton Abbot last time out but may fare better running with a penalty back in novice company. Rampant Ronnie won a maiden hurdle at Plumpton last time out on his fourth start over hurdles. There is room for further improvement so any market moves should be noted. The Irish will be using this track as a regular playing field and Turf War can be the first of many Irish trained winners at this venue.
Turf War (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Held up in 5th, close 3rd 3 out, led before 2 out, kept on well from last, easily, won at Wexford 2m nh nov hdl gd beating Coffee Tea Or Me (11-0) by 8l, 7 ran.
Dantari (IRE) 9-4 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, driven to 2nd run in, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind American Art (10-7) at Cartmel 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Cootehill (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headweay 3 out, led on bit approaching last, soon clear, won at Southwell 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd beating Duty Free (10-12) by 6l, 10 ran.
Rampant Ronnie (USA) 5-1 (10-10) Made all, wandered approaching 2nd, in command between last 2, ridden clear flat, won at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in May beating Venir Rouge (11-0) by 4l, 10 ran.
Tayarat (IRE) 7-1 (10-1) Led, jinked badly left 2nd, soon headed, chased leader until weakened approaching 3 out, last of 8, 42l behind Classic Swain (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in May.
Alfie Noakes 10-1 (9-13) Started slowly, held up in rear, some late headway, never dangerous, 9th of 13, 11l behind Blazing Bailey (9-8) at Newbury 1m 4f ldy hcp (5) sft in Oct (flat).
Attrapeur (FR) 33-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway on inside over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 12, 14l behind Kaladan (11-9) at Stratford 2m NH flat (5) gd in May.
Ghufa (IRE) 10-3fav (11-4) Chased leaders, pushed along 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 12, 5l behind Iceman George (9-13) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf (flat).
How Is It Going (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, led before 4th, headed 6 out, remained prominent, weakened from 4 out, 11th of 13, well behind Arbor Supreme (11-12) at Naas 2m 4f chs sft in Mar '08.
Piper's Song (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 4th, never dangerous, 10th of 15, 42l behind Mighty Moon (11-4) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Taxman (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Towards rear, ridden 7th, no impression, 5th of 15, 44l behind Archduke Ferdinand (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Twill (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Led to 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 10, 31l behind Sendani (10-12) at Aintree 2m nov hdl (4) gd in May '08.
Venir Rouge 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd travelling well 3 out, pushed along before next, ridden and held last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Rampant Ronnie (10-10) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in May.
Planetarium 14-1 (10-7) Not fluent, chased leaders, hampered 5th, went 2nd 6th until approaching 3 out, soon weakened, blundered badly last, 6th of 9, well behind Come West (10-12) at Towcester 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Another Bottle (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Towards rear, smooth headway from 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, hit 2 out, led on long flat from last, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf beating Silver Point (11-0) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Pembo 33-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, driven and one pace final 2f, 5th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Almahaza (9-0) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-52 (6) fbs in Feb (flat).
