led to 3 out, soon one pace
chased leaders, kept on well from last
held up behind, hampered 2nd, mistake 4th, soon reminders, never dangerous
held up, weakened when hampered 4 out
chased leaders, led 3 out, ran on well from last
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
brought down, held up when brought down 4 out
held up, brought down 2nd
held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, stumbled last, one pace
held up mid-division, in 7th and one pace when fell 4 out
chased leader, weakened approching 3 out
held up mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, weakened after 2 out, mistake last
always towards rear
held up and keen, hampered 2nd, weakened 4 out
Professor Higgins looks one to take on in this novices' hurdle and we will do so with ALDERLEY ROVER who is preferred to Fredo. The selection has gone close in bumper company on each of his first two starts and he is sure to have been well-schooled for this his hurdling debut. He is versatile with regards to the ground and he looks the percentage call in an open affair. Howard Johnson's 5-year-old Professor Higgins has had a few chances and he is hard to enthuse about. He has shown his best form over slightly further and he may lack the pace to trouble the judge here. Fredo arrives here fit from a recent spin on the level and he was still in contention when he fell on his last start over hurdles. He had gone close prior to that at Stratford and he has a leading chance. A market move for Jonjo O'Neill's Definite Style could be of interest on his racecourse bow. But we will stick with Alderley Rover as the pick.
Alderley Rover (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Took keen hold, prominent, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 14, 15l behind Cherry Flora (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) gs in Oct.
Be Brief 5-4fav (11-7) Lft 2nd 11; led 13; lft clr last, won at Upcott Cross 3m ptp sft in Apr beating Fenny Lily (11-7) by 20l, 9 ran.
Crime Dont Pay (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Whipped round start, lost 15 lengths, caught up with rear of group after 4f, lost touch again before halfway, last of 17, well behind According To Dick (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m nhf (4) gd in Oct.
Definite Style (IRE) Definite Article gelding out of Like My Style.
Ergo (FR) 25-1 (10-4) Towards rear, in chasing pack 2 out, ridden and weakened approaching and pulled up 3 out in race won by Emmenso (10-10) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Apr, 10 ran.
Fredo (IRE) 13-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, disputing close 3rd, ridden when fell 2 out in race won by Special Day (10-6) at Newbury 2m 3f 4yo nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Mar, 13 ran.
Lord of Dreams (IRE) 9-1 (8-6) Held up, hampered on inside over 3f out, soon ridden and hanging left when weakening 2f out, 10th of 13, 26l behind It's No Problem (8-0) at Chepstow 1m 2f clm (6) gd in May (Flat).
Minella Boys (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up, slightly hampered 2nd, mistake 7th, never dangerous, 7th of 15, 40l behind Diamond Harry (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Oscar Wild 50-1 (10-12) Held up, struggling 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Castletown Boy (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in May, 8 ran.
Percutant (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Held up, driven over 7f out, kept on under pressure final 2f, never troubled leaders, 5th of 12, 8l behind Cuigny (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nhf (6) gs in Apr.
Professor Higgins (IRE) 13-8fav (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Or d'Oudairies (10-7) at Hexham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Robustian 11-2 (9-9) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f, effort when weakening final 2f, 4th of 8, 16l behind Ellmau (8-13) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Oct (Flat).
Shake On It 6-1 (9-11) In touch on outside, ridden and weakened over 2f out, last of 10, 14l behind Gross Prophet (9-8) at Kempton 1m 2f clm (6) pol in Oct (Flat).
Spirit of The Mist (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up and keen, headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 18, 30l behind American Trilogy (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) sft in Oct.
Starr Flyer 66-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, switched right 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Dr McFab (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 3yo mdn hdl (4) gf in Oct '07.
Tutor (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, 9th of 13, well behind Woolcombe Folly (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
