behind, reminders 5th, driven along after 8th, headway before 2 out, kept on well flat, went 2nd near finish
held up in touch until fell 5th
soon pushed along in rear, ridden 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 8th
chased leaders, weakened after 7th, tailed off
led to 4th, chased leaders to 7th, soon lost place, tailed off
in touch, headway to track leader 8th, ridden well before 2 out, every chance flat, no extra towards finish
behind, tailed off 7th, fell next
held up in mid-division, headway well before 2 out, went 3rd 2 out, stayed on well to lead towards finish
raced wide, keen hold, tracked leaders, led 6th, wandered before 2 out, went badly left last, headed and no extra towards finish, saddle slipped on final bend
chased leader, led 4th until 6th, weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
BALTHAZAR KING gets the verdict in this maiden hurdle with Newsday and Timon's Present the others for the shortlist. The selection ran well in a maiden hurdle at Perth last time when he chased home Chicago Grey. He finished a long way clear of the remainder that day and a reproduction of that effort should be enough to see him get his head in front. Newsday looks the alternative as she has shown up well in bumper company and she shaped with plenty of promise on her debut over hurdles when she finished second behind Viva Colonia here. There could be more to come and she has an obvious chance. Timon's Present shapes as though she will make a decent chaser but she did run with plenty of credit on her debut over hurdles last time when she chased home Caragh Bridge. If she can build on that then she would be another that might be good enough to make her mark. Ashmolian showed improved form last time to finish third here last time, but Newsday finished second in that race and it is hard to see the placings being reversed today. Balthazar King looks to be on an upward curve and he can get his head in front.
Ashmolian (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway from 4 out, chased leaders after next, ridden to challenge 2 out, every chance flat until one pace towards finish, 3rd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Viva Colonia (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd.
Balthazar King (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 4 out, led briefly before 2 out, ridden and one pace approaching last, 2nd of 3, 10l behind Chicago Grey (11-0) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Bunglasha Hall (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Always in rear, ridden and struggling before 4 out, 7th of 14, 42l behind Viva Colonia (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd.
Code (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Never travelling in rear, blundered and driven 6th, well behind 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Heir To Be (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 6f clm hdl (5) gd, 6 ran.
Creagh Bay (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Led, headed 1st, stayed prominent, ridden to lead again 4 out, headed and weakened 3 out, 4th of 10, 18l behind China Gold (11-0) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Little Eaglet (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up, lost place 5th, plugged on, took 4th last, 4th of 11, 29l behind Santia (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Nimbus Flyer 100-1 (10-13) Raced in 4th until dropped to last in 4th, tailed off 8th, 4th of 5, well behind King's Alchemist (10-7) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Home 33-1 (10-4) Always in rear, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Dont Tell The Wife (10-11) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Mar.
Newsday (IRE) 80-1 (10-7) In touch, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, kept on well to take 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Viva Colonia (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd.
Quantique (FR) 5-1 (10-13) Prominent, led briefly after 3 out, chased winner after, well held and disputing 2nd when went right last, no chance with winner, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Where's Susie (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Timon's Present 9-4 (10-7) With leader, led 2nd, joined 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Caragh Bridge (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
