led, hit 4th, soon headed, remained prominent, lost place before 4 out, weakening when mistake 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, headway and mistake 3 out, every chance when fell last
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon chasing leaders, led approaching 2 out, ran on well
with leader, led after 4th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, gradually weakened
always behind
held up, in touch, hit 3rd, under pressure 8th, tailed off before 4 out, pulled up after next
held up, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, hard ridden 2nd last, left in 2nd at last, no chance with winner
mid-division, slow 4th, outpaced before 4 out, headway to chase leaders 2 out, soon one pace, left in 3rd at last
tracked leaders, mistake 8th, soon ridden, every chance 3 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, under pressure 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
BOB 'N' YOU is progressing well and can see off Nemetan and Solway Minstrel. Ian Williams' gelding won very readily at Aintree last time out and he can defy a 12lb rise in the weights. The ground should be ideal, he has shown that a speed track holds no fears, and with the stable in good form he can win again. Top-weight Sashenka has been holding her form well and is considered despite a rising mark, Bubble Boy is attractively handicapped back over hurdles, whilst the same may apply to Dont Tell The Wife who was poor last time out. Solway Minstrel is consistent but hasn't won since November 2008 whilst a bigger danger may be Little Al who should come on for a recent Fontwell second to Dot's Delight. Nemetan rates a big danger as a course winner and this useful chaser is a player off this lower hurdles mark. Another open affair, however it is Bob 'n' You who is fancied to lead them home.
Sashenka 6-1 (10-7) Led, clear approaching 3rd, hit next, reduced advantage before 8th, headed approaching 3 out, soon led again, stayed on gamely, headed flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind I'm The Decider (11-7) at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May.
Bob 'n' You (IRE) 5-2fav (10-3) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, ridden and not fluent last, kept on well, won at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Oct beating Victory Parade (11-4) by 8l, 11 ran.
King Ar Aghaidh (IRE) 5-1fav (11-9) Immediately ridden, soon detached, blundered 2nd, tailed off 5th, 9th of 14, well behind Willies Way (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
Solway Minstrel 5-1 (11-7) Narrow leader, raced keenly, ridden and headed after 3 out, beaten when jumped left last, kept trying flat, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Orchard King (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
The Entomologist (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Held up, chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 8th of 16, 46l behind Wise Men Say (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Little Al 14-1 (10-12) With leaders, led approaching and headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Dot's Delight (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) gs.
Corker 8-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, no impression from next, 5th of 16, 21l behind Wise Men Say (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Nemetan (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Mid-division on outside, headway approaching 6th, stayed on approaching last, went 2nd near finish but no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 5l behind Magnifico (11-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy.
Acosta 8-1 (10-8) Chased leader, led after 5th, headed 6th, soon ridden, weakened, 7th of 8, well behind Synchronised (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) hvy in Jan.
Investment Wings (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4th unti next, ridden 6th, soon weakened, no chance when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Middleton Dene (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Oct '07, 7 ran.
Bubble Boy (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Prominent, led 3rd to 5th, dropped rear 9th, behind when pulled up before 17th, in a race won by Any Currency (11-7) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd, 10 ran.
Dont Tell The Wife (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Mid-division on outside, lost place 7th, hit 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 42l behind Shillingstone (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
