led, headed 7th, ridden 9th, weakened 4 out
held up, headway 8th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened approaching last
in touch, chased leaders 4 out, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, ridden 10th, tailed off when mistake 2 out
tracked leaders, 2nd 10th, ridden to challenge leader approaching last, led after, held on
towards rear, ridden 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, stumbled 1st, weakened 10th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
with leader, led 7th, mistake 8th (water), pressed approaching last, headed soon after and rallied again close home
This should go the way of Oh Crick who can outbattle the quirky City Affair although Mister Benedictine doesn't have too much to find with that pair on hurdles form. The selection has had just eight career starts, winning four of them, and has progressed with almost each and every outing. His ability to jump has to be taken on trust but he's sure to have been well prepared and his in-form trainer has a formidable record of five winners from just nine runners over fences here in recent seasons. City Affair has the benefit of a chase outing to his name already and he did well to finish second to Desert Quest. The winner, though, is not renowned as the most resolute of battlers and that is an accusation that has been levelled at City Affair in the past although he did win three on the bounce over hurdles last August. Mister Benedictine has performed creditably in some decent races over hurdles and merits consideration but we feel that he lacks the scope of our selection, who is Oh Crick.
Bay Mouse 33-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, struggling 10th, weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 11, 38l behind Mister Gloss (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (4) gd in Apr.
City Affair 6-1 (10-12) Patiently ridden, held up, headway to go 3rd approaching 4 out, stayed on to chase winner 2 out, challenged flat, not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Desert Quest (11-5) at Ludlow 2m nov chs (3) gd in Mar.
Mister Benedictine 33-1 (10-6) Soon in touch, weakened 3 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Auroras Encore (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr, 21 ran.
Mistified (IRE) 3-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, ridden after 6th, chased winner approaching 2 out but always held, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Quarrymount (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Oh Crick (FR) 5-1 (10-13) In touch, hit 3 out when outpaced, 9th of 21, 23l behind Pearl King (10-10) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Brown Fox (FR) 40-1 (10-5) Mainly towards rear, weakened after 11th, 10th of 11, well behind Mister Gloss (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (4) gd in Apr.
Roseville (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Prominent until ridden and weakened 2 out, 5th of 7, 20l behind Thistle (10-5) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Sninfia (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Held up, ridden 8th, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Farmer's Lad (11-12) at Taunton 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Feb.
Cengiz (IRE) 150-1 (10-5) Held up, driven after 9th, o chance when blundered and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Orrezzo (10-5) at Ludlow 2m nov chs (3) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
