in touch, ridden after 3 out, beaten 2 out, weakened
led, mistake 5th, headed approaching 2 out where hampered, weakened between last 2, mistake last
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway going well approaching 2 out, shaken up before last, ran on well under pressure to lead post
held up in rear, always behind
mid-division, mistake 5th, weakened next
in touch, joined leader when fell 2 out
held up in rear, hampered 2nd, headway after 3 out, edged right and beaten 2 out, soon eased
chased leaders, lost place after 3 out, hampered 2 out, some progress when not much room last, no impression
mid-division, blundered 3rd, struggling 2 out, mistake last, never dangerous
chased leader, led approaching 2 out where stongly pressed and jumped left, headed between last 2, 5th and weakening when blundered last
held up towards rear, effort and mistake 2 out, no impression
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, mistake 2 out, punished approaching last and every chance until not quicken near finish
mid-division, headway after 3 out, led between last 2, hard driven flat, headed post
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, slightly hampered 2 out, every chance last, no extra towards finish
The Venetia Williams runner Quantique looks to be racing under a workable weight but with a bit more race fitness AKRAM looks the one to side with while Viable also looks interesting in the Apprentices' Handicap Hurdle. The Jonjo O'Neill trained selection is consistent when taking on hurdles and ran another good race in defeat at Wincanton last time which was just his second start this year over timber and he looks guaranteed to run another good race. Quantique hails from a yard that typically take a bit of time to get going but this mare is lightly raced and could improve on a solid run at Fontwell the last time we saw her. Viable is another consistent animal but is often too free for his own good while Weststerns is another for the shortlist after not being far beaten by a subsequent winner on his last effort. Not a bad race to finish with that can go the way of the consistent Akram.
Viable 7-2 (10-12) Chased clear leader, saddle slipped after 3rd, lost 2nd before 5th, beaten when mistake 2 out, 3rd of 8, 24l behind Any Given Day (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Pugilist 15-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, hit 6th, ridden after 3 out, chased winner 2 out, not fluent last, kept on but always held, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Qianshan Leader (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Akram (IRE) 15-2 (10-13) Held up mid-division, headway after 3 out, mistake when challenging next, soon one pace, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Simply Blue (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Phoenix Eye 13-2 (10-6) Took keen hold, held up in last, lost action and pulled up before 3rd, in a race won by Zorro De La Vega (11-9) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct, 9 ran.
Super Ross (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway when mistake 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 13, 30l behind Tarkani (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
Foreign King (USA) 5-1 (11-6) Prominent, fell 4 out, in a race won by Dark Energy (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Oct, 9 ran.
Murphy (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led after 1st, headed 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Lepido (11-2) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Apr, 18 ran.
Commit To Memory 16-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, never in contention, 9th of 12, 17l behind King High (11-0) at Worcester 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Sep.
Darfour 10-1 (10-12) Held up, pushed along and headway 3 out, kept on from last, 4th of 12, 10l behind Skylancer (11-5) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Quantique (FR) 11-4 (10-0) 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, 4th of 11, 2l behind Newsday (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gf in May.
Mid Valley 14-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, pulled hard, not fluent and stumbled 5th, some progress 2 out, never in contention, 5th of 11, 28l behind Whenever (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Oct.
Kilmeena Magic 11-1 (10-0) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, plugged on under pressure from next, 4th of 14, 11l behind Stance (10-4) at Sandown 2m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gs in Feb.
Weststern (GER) 7-2 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, headway 3 out, went left and every chance last, unable to quicken flat, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Zabeel Palace (11-11) at Plumpton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Oct.
Classical Rhythm (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 21l behind Cootehill (11-8) at Kempton 2m lst nov hdl (4yo+) (1) gf in Oct.
