tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, outpaced when blundered 2 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up in touch, smooth headway to lead after 3 out, ridden approaching last, headed close home, no extra
tailed off from halfway
made most to 6th, weakened 3 out
prominent, pushed along halfway, headway and every chance after 3 out, outpaced next
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 2 out
towards rear, ridden 3 out, no impression
towards rear, pushed along 5th, headway under pressure 3 out, effort and went 2nd next, stayed on strongly flat to lead close home
close up, led 6th, headed after 3 out, soon weakened
Circassian can beat the likes of Wild Cane Ridge, Rare Coincidence and Chickapeakray, with Red Scally also worth a mention. There is plenty of winning form to go on here, and it should develop into a decent contest, with preference for Circassian who took on good company last season, including when fifth behind Straw Bear in a Grade 2 hurdle at Aintree in April. It has to be said that he did not jump well at Wetherby last time, but this third outing of the campaign should see him strip fitter and hurdle with more fluency in his bid to see off some fair rivals. Wild Cane Ridge has won seven of his 12 career starts, and goes well fresh, but he will be going back over fences in due course. Rare Coincidence is a useful dual-purpose performer, and may dictate the pace here, but that will only serve to set the race up for the selection. Of the rest, Chickapeakray has progressed from selling company but has a bit to find, while Red Scally lines up from out of the handicap. All in all, the claims of Circassian look strongest, and he can hump his big weight to victory.
Circassian (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed between last 2, no extra flat, 4th of 9, 5l behind Archie Babe (10-1) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Wild Cane Ridge (IRE) 3-1fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, behind from 7th, 8th of 11, well behind Ile Maurice (10-2) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar.
Your A Gassman (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Always behind, 5th of 10, 31l behind Billy Bush (10-11) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Rare Coincidence 8-1 (11-9) Led to 7th, ridden to lead again approaching 2 out, stayed on gamely, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Sept beating Thedublinpublican (10-6) by 2l, 16 ran.
Imtihan (IRE) 9-2fav (10-10) In touch, led 3rd, hit 3 out, headed next, soon ridden and one pace, 6th of 13, 23l behind Brooklyn Brownie (10-9) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Apr.
Chickapeakray 7-2jt-fav (11-7) Chased leaders, led approaching 9th, jumped right last, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 3m mrs hcp hdl (4) sft in Oct beating Bdellium (10-0) by 2l, 9 ran.
Calfraz 11-4 (10-11) Mid-division, chased leaders approaching 3 out, ridden next, one pace, 3rd of 11, 16l behind Emmasflora (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar.
Red Scally 16-1 (11-8) Towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, led approaching last, driven out, won at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Oct beating Double Ells (9-12) by 2 1/2l, 18 ran.
Piraeus (NZ) 10-3fav (11-12) Prominent until weakened quickly approaching 2 out, 8th of 13, well behind College City (10-9) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Oct.
