chased leaders in 4th, not fluent 2nd, 3rd from 7th, kept on flat, went 2nd near finish
tracked leaders, 2nd 5th, led after next, mistake 3 out, clear after, reduced lead and mistake last, headed and no extra final 110 yards, lost 2nd near finish
took keen hold, blundered 1st, in touch, struggling from 7th, tailed off
held up, blundered and driven 3rd, ridden and struggling 8th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
led 2nd, blundered 5th, went right and hit 7th, weakening when hit 8th, tailed off
took keen hold, jumped right, led to 2nd, weakened 5th, tailed off when pulled up 7th
in touch, 2nd from 7th, mistake 4 out, lost 2nd after 3 out, regained 2nd 2 out, closed on leader before last, stayed on to lead final 110 yards
LIKE A HURRICANE can carry his penalty to victory, in the process seeing off Murcar and Pure Anticipation. Alan King's gelding lost little caste in defeat when third to Inventor last time out at Bangor and as a proven course winner he looks very much the one to beat today. The ground should be in his favour and this unexposed hurdler can take top ranking. Murcar won in solid fashion at Towcester last time out and the feeling is that there should be more to come from Alison Thorpe's son of Medicean, whilst Leitra House was a winner between the fags at Kinsale in Ireland when last seen a year ago. Cash Crisis is an interesting recruit to the yard after a maiden point win a month ago, however a bigger threat may be Pure Anticipation who got off the mark at Uttoxeter last time out on his return from a break. Enough dead-wood around for the size of field and perhaps a good opportunity for Like A Hurricane to win again.
Like A Hurricane (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Tracked winner, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 4, 6l behind Inventor (11-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Murcar 7-4fav (10-9) Raced keenly, led 1st, green at hurdles after, wandered 5th, soon headed, led and jumped well from 7th, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well, won at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gf in May beating Naughty Naughty (10-7) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Leitra House (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Cl up, mostly 3rd/4th till 5th from 9th, 4th 3out, 3rd next, prog on outer to ld btwn last 2, so, won at Kinsale 3m ire ptp gd in May '09 beating Clover Rock (12-0) by 1l, 16 ran.
Pallaton 25-1 (8-10) Tracked leading pair, lost place 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 12, 33l behind Carr Hall (8-12) at Chepstow 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in May (flat).
Byzantina Fair 25-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, jumped right and bumped rival 2nd, soon last, jumped left 4th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Bushwacker (10-9) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn chs (4) gf in May, 7 ran.
Cash Crisis (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Cl up, ld bef 4th, kow when chall from 2out, won at Athlacca 3m ire ptp fm in May beating Whatareyousaying (12-0) by 2l, 13 ran.
Pure Anticipation (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, challenged over 4f out, led over 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on well final furlong (no time taken), won at Uttoxeter 2m N H flat (6) gf in May beating Bellaboosh (10-8) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
